On Tuesday 26 June, European Trade Commissioner Cecilia Malmström gave assurances that the EU could implement provisional safeguard measures for the steel sector "by mid July". The measures follow the imposition of US customs duties, since 1 June, of 25% on imports of steel from the EU and of 10% on those of aluminium.
"We are working in close collaboration with the sectors concerned to see if the steel and aluminium products from third countries that were intended for the US market arrive in Europe, (to see if) there is any dumping, and if these products flood the markets", Malmström said at a press conference.
"We will have the full picture by the end of the year, but we are seriously considering provisional measures (for steel) by mid July. The form these measures will take is still being discussed", she added.
To protect the EU market from the diversion of trade caused by the US restrictions, the Commission opened a safeguard investigation, on 26 March, into imports of steel – which, within nine months, could lead to measures compatible with WTO rules. The EU has also set up a monitoring system for aluminium imports.
According to the WTO rules, a country can take out a safeguard measures (in other words, temporarily limit the imports of a product) only if it is noted that the increase in imports of the product causes, or threatens to cause, serious damage to the industry concerned. (Original version in French by Emmanuel Hagry)