Archive · 19 Sep 2026
EU Sets Provisional Safeguards on Electrical Steel Imports
The European Union wants to protect companies that make a special kind of steel.
This steel is used in wind turbines and power grids.
Officials say some imported steel is being sold very cheaply.
Starting September 25, the EU will limit how much can be imported at lower prices.
Imports above those limits will face a higher minimum price.
The rules will also cover some products made with this steel.
The measures are temporary while the European Commission investigates the issue.
A permanent system would need approval from a qualified majority of EU countries.
The European Union will impose import quotas and minimum prices on electrical steel and downstream products from September 25, 2026.
The measures target grain-oriented electrical steel, laminations, and transformer cores containing the metal.
Minimum prices for electrical steel will range from €2,800 to €3,400 per metric ton within quotas and reach €3,500 above quota volumes.
The provisional safeguards are intended to protect European producers, including Thyssenkrupp’s steel unit and Poland’s Stalprodukt SA.
The European Commission’s investigation is continuing, while China accounted for more than half of EU imports of the products in 2025.
- Who
- The European Union and European Commission are imposing and investigating the safeguards; affected producers include Thyssenkrupp’s steel unit and Poland’s Stalprodukt SA.
- What
- The EU will introduce provisional import quotas and minimum prices for grain-oriented electrical steel and certain downstream products.
- When
- The measures are scheduled to apply from September 25, 2026; the article was published September 19, 2026.
- Where
- The safeguards apply to products imported into the European Union, with production sites referenced in Germany and France.
- Why
- The EU says the measures are needed to protect European production from cheap imports and support the struggling steel sector.
- Measures
- Import quotas and minimum prices for electrical steel and downstream products
- Effective date
- September 25, 2026
- Products covered
- Grain-oriented electrical steel, laminations, and transformer cores containing the metal
- Minimum price within quotas
- €2,800–€3,400 per metric ton
- Minimum price above quotas
- €3,500 per metric ton
- Investigation
- The European Commission launched its safeguards investigation in March and is continuing it
- China’s share
- More than 50% of EU imports of the steel and downstream products in 2025