Federacciai has published a monitoring update on EU tariff quota volumes covering 26 steel product categories under the new trade defence instrument that took effect on 1 July 2026. The framework is based on Regulation 2026/1384 of the Council and the European Parliament, published on 24 June 2026, and on Commission Implementing Regulation 2026/1457, published on 30 June 2026, which provides the detailed product-by-country quota allocations.
According to the material released by Federacciai, the measure is intended to address negative trade effects linked to global excess capacity in the steel sector. Its scope covers 26 product categories listed in Annex I to Regulation 2026/1384. The total annual quota is set at 18.3 million tonnes, split across product categories and assigned through country-specific tariff quotas. Once a quota is exceeded, a 50% duty applies.
The text also states that the Commission may adjust the overall tariff quota volume within a range from 14.4 million tonnes to 22.2 million tonnes, taking into account factors such as demand trends, major developments in excess capacity and changes in import shares. The measure applies to third countries, with Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway excluded.
Quota allocation distinguishes between country-specific quotas and residual quotas under the headings “Other Countries” and “FTA Quota – Other Countries”. For each product category, countries listed in Annex II.2 that exhaust their own specific quota may access the “FTA Quota – country-specific quota”. As a general rule, countries that already have a quota in the table cannot use the residual quotas. Free trade agreement partners listed in Annex II.1 but without their own quota may access both residual quota pools.
Federacciai also highlights the quarterly administration of the system. During the first year, from 1 July 2026 to 30 June 2027, unused volumes may be carried over to the following quarter within the same year. From 1 July 2027, any continued use of that carry-over mechanism is to be assessed by product category and set out in a dedicated Commission implementing regulation.
Another operational point concerns the melt-and-pour requirement. At customs clearance, importers must provide documentary evidence of the country where the steel was melted and poured. Under the timeline cited by Federacciai, the Commission is due by 31 August 2026 to define the required supporting documents and by 30 June 2028 to assess whether product-by-country quota allocation should move from the current last substantial transformation criterion to a melt-and-pour basis.
