EUROFER: EU steel exports to US down 34% a year after Trump imposes 50% tariffs

European steel exports to the US have fallen by one-third since the US administration imposed 50 percent steel tariffs, according to new data released by the European Steel Association (EUROFER).

The association reported that EU steel exports to the US fell by 34 percent year-on-year in the three quarters after the tariffs were introduced on June 4, 2025. Export volumes decreased from 2.93 million. to 1.94 million tonnes over the period.

Tariffs continue to put pressure on the European steel sector

50 percent tariffs were introduced under US Section 232 and were later expanded to cover a range of steel-intensive downstream products. According to EUROFER, steel and aluminum remain the only sectors still subject to the full 50 percent US tariff rate, with measures continuing to impact both European steel producers and manufacturing supply chains.

The association said the sharp decline in exports demonstrates the continuing impact of tariffs on the transatlantic steel trade.

The EU-US trade deal includes Safeguards

The figures were published shortly after EU member states approved legislation implementing the latest EU-US trade deal.

Under the agreement, the European Commission has the power to suspend parts of the deal if the United States continues to impose tariffs above 15% after the end of 2026 on steel- and aluminum-intensive derivative products that have become be subject to U.S. tariffs after June 4, 2025.

The agreement also provides for further discussions between Brussels and Washington regarding:

• tariff rate quota (TRQ) decisions,
• steel and aluminum trade,
• cooperation to address the global glut capacity.

EUROFER calls for a permanent solution

Axel Eggert, EUROFER CEO, said the data clearly illustrates the impact of tariffs on European exports and said market access issues remain unresolved a year after the measures came into force.

Eggert said both sides are interested in maintaining strong transatlantic cooperation, but he stressed that balanced trading conditions have not yet been restored.