New EU and UK steel measures from 1 July 2026

EU: Steel measures from 1 July 2026

The EU applies the measures to all third countries including Switzerland. The EWR/EFTA countries Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway are excluded.

What changes?

• 30 product groups are affected. The customs tariff numbers concerned are listed in Annex I to EU Regulation 2026/1384 (page 15 et seq.).
• Duty-free quotas are reduced by about half in total The total quantities per product group are listed in Annex II to EU Regulation 2026/1384 (page 18ff).
• Additional duty outside the quota: new 50% (previously 25%)

How do the quotas work?

The EU divides the quantities per product group into different quota types:

Country-specific quotas

For product categories in which a country had at least a 5% EU import share in the past, exclusive quotas for that country are provided.

For Switzerland, there are country-specific quotas in product categories 12, 14, 16, 17, 26 and 27.

Once these country-specific quotas are exhausted, imports from Switzerland are still possible in the relevant categories via additional free trade agreement quotas. However, the principle of 'first come, first served’ applies, and Swiss exporters are in competition with other countries that also have a free trade agreement with the EU.

Remaining quotas

The remaining product categories fall under residual quotas, which are generally divided into two parts: on the one hand, quotas in which Swiss goods compete with all WTO members, and on the other hand, FTA quotas in which Swiss goods only compete with countries that have also concluded a free trade agreement with the EU.

Special quotas under the FHA quota for other countries

In product categories 1A, 2, 4B, 9 and 21, Switzerland is granted guaranteed quota amounts, although these categories would normally fall under residual quotas. In product categories 2, 4B, 9 and 21, Swiss goods also have access to a portion of the residual quota, in which all WTO Members compete.

As before, the quotas will be managed on a quarterly basis. Any remaining quantities can generally be carried over to the next quarter within the year.

Operational impact for Swiss exporters

Non-preferential origin under EU rules continues to apply, so the preferential rules of origin in the free trade agreement do not apply.

In addition, from 1 October 2026, proof of “melt and pour” will be required for the import of steel products into the EU. The form in which this proof must be provided has not yet been definitively determined.

UK: Steel measures from 1 July 2026  

The United Kingdom is also introducing new, indefinite steel measures from 1 July 2026, replacing the protective measures that expire at the end of June 2026. The regulation also applies to Switzerland.

The tariff-free quotas are reduced by 51% compared to the previous protection measures; imports outside the quotas are subject to an additional duty of 50%.

For Switzerland, a country-specific quota is provided in the UK in product category 26.

For more information on UK steel volumes, please click here.

For any questions or comments, please contact the State Secretariat for Economic Affairs SECO: info.afwa@seco.admin.ch.

Sources:

Regulation (EU) 2026/1384 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 17 June 2026 addressing the negative trade-related effects of global overcapacity on the Union steel market and amending Regulation (EU) 2020/2170

Factsheet: EU steel measure - Trade and Economic Security