The European Association of Non-Integrated Metal Importers & Distributors (EURANIMI) has warned that the European Commission’s upcoming Steel and Metals Action Plan (SMAP) could severely destabilize the EU’s manufacturing base.
The proposal, now before the European Parliament and Council, aims to introduce a new import quota regime to replace the current safeguard mechanism expiring on June 30, 2026, under WTO rules.
Under the draft SMAP, steel import volumes would be capped at roughly 50% below 2024 levels and up to 60% for stainless steel. Once quotas are exceeded, import duties could double from 25% to 50%.
EURANIMI warns that, when combined with the Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM), such restrictions could lead to severe supply shortages and record-high steel prices — echoing the 2021 post-COVID steel crisis, when bottlenecks and speculation disrupted production across Europe.
The group highlighted several risks:
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Sharp price increases across the steel supply chain
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Shortages, especially in stainless long products
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Production line closures and relocations due to competitiveness loss
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Rising imports of finished goods outside CBAM coverage
EURANIMI has urged the EU to rebalance industrial policy to support both steel producers and downstream manufacturers reliant on imported semi-finished metals.
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