ACEA reaction to the proposal for continued measures on European steel imports

Brussels, 8 October 2025 - The European Automobile Manufacturers' Association (ACEA) takes note of the announcement by the European Commission of its proposal to extend protection of the European steel market.

Automobile manufacturers source approximately 90% of their direct steel purchases in the EU and are most concerned about the inflationary impact that an effective continuation of the safeguard will have on European market prices.

The changing of key safeguard parameters, in particular the dramatic lowering of quotas and the doubling of the out of quota tariff to 50%, will significantly reduce the possibility to relieve pressure in the European market through imports. In addition, a new rule of origin based on the "melt and pour" principle will restrict imports further and create a massive administrative burden for European users of imported steel products.

The Commission needs to look individually at sectors like automotive where, despite a heavy reliance on domestic steel supply, our manufacturers still need to import certain quantities and qualities. Quotas for automotive grades have always been rapidly exhausted under the last seven years of the safeguard. The Commission also needs to understand the complexity of applying the "melt and pour" rule of origin in deep and global supply chain such as automotive.

"European steel is undergoing a decarbonisation transformation and we recognise in that sector many of the challenges that we have in making our industry competitive during radical change", said ACEA Director General, Sigrid de Vries. "We do not contest the need for some level of protection for a commodity industry like steel but we feel that the parameters as proposed by the Commission go too far in ring-fencing the European market. We need to find a better balance between the needs of European producers and users of steel in this measure."

About ACEA

• The European Automobile Manufacturers' Association (ACEA) represents the 16 major Europe-based car, van, truck and bus makers: BMW Group, DAF Trucks, Daimler Truck, Ferrari, Ford of Europe, Honda Motor Europe, Hyundai Motor Europe, Iveco Group, JLR, Mercedes-Benz, Nissan, Renault Group, Stellantis, Toyota Motor Europe, Volkswagen Group, and Volvo Group.
• Visit https://www.acea.auto for more information about ACEA, and follow us on https://www.x.com/ACEA_auto or https://www.linkedin.com/company/ACEA/

Contact:

• Camille Lamarque, Policy Communications Officer, [email protected], +32 (0) 2 738 73 16

About the EU automobile industry

• 13.6 million Europeans work in the automotive sector
• 8.1% of all manufacturing jobs in the EU
• €414.7 billion in tax revenue for European governments
• €93.9 billion trade surplus for the European Union
• Over 8% of EU GDP generated by the auto industry
• €84.6 billion in R&D spending annually, 34% of EU total