EU Steel Exports to US Fall 30% as Tariff Talks Remain Stuck
Steel exports from the European Union to the United States dropped by 30% in 2025 because of heavy US tariffs. Talks between Brussels and Washington to reduce these tariffs are still not moving forward, and there is no clear sign of improvement.
According to recent data from Eurostat, collected by the industry group Eurofer, EU steel shipments to the US fell by 30% between June and December 2025 compared with the same months in 2024. The sharp fall shows how strongly the US tariffs are affecting European steel producers.
In June 2025, the US government imposed a 50% tariff on steel and aluminium imports from the EU. In August, these measures were expanded to cover more than 400 steel and aluminium products. Although the EU and the US signed a trade agreement in July 2025 that set a general 15% US tariff on most EU goods, steel was not included in that deal. As a result, the 50% tariff on steel remains in place, and discussions to lower it have not progressed.
Eurofer Director-General Axel Eggert said the 30% drop in exports in just six months clearly shows how damaging the tariffs are for the European steel industry. He also warned that the US decision to include EU downstream steel products, such as machinery, will hurt both European companies and their customers even more.
The United States says the tariffs are meant to protect its market from global overcapacity, especially from China. Washington argues that Chinese steel is flooding international markets, including Europe, and harming local industries.
At the same time, Chinese steel exports that once went to the US are now being redirected more toward Europe. In response, the European Commission proposed new measures on 7 October 2025. The proposal aims to reduce by half the amount of steel that can enter the EU without tariffs. It also plans to introduce a 50% tariff on imports that exceed a yearly quota of 18.3 million tons. These changes still need approval from EU lawmakers and member states before they can take effect.
Brussels is also hoping to reopen talks with the White House to negotiate lower US tariffs on European steel. However, US officials have connected any new discussions to the full implementation of last summer’s EU-US trade deal. That agreement was reached by European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and US President Donald Trump. Under the deal, the EU agreed to remove tariffs on US goods, while accepting a 15% tariff on most of its exports to the US.
The agreement still needs formal approval from the European Parliament and EU member states. Lawmakers are expected to vote on it in March. Only after that can final negotiations with member countries take place.
Tensions have also slowed progress. Earlier this year, talks on the European side stalled after the US threatened military annexation of Greenland from Denmark. Although Washington later softened its language, the situation caused delays. In addition, ongoing US pressure for more flexible digital regulations in Europe has created further difficulties in the negotiations.
For now, with tariffs still high and talks stalled, EU steel exporters continue to face serious challenges in the US market.
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