The World Trade Organization (WTO) Committee on Safeguards has announced that it reviewed a total of 38 safeguard actions during its meeting on April 27, with steel and metal products accounting for a significant share of the discussions. Out of the total, 12 measures were related to steel and metal products, highlighting ongoing global trade tensions in the sector.
EU and UK steel measures attract strong attention
Several WTO members raised concerns and exchanged views on safeguard measures implemented by the EU and the UK.
In particular, discussions focused on:
- The EU’s investigation into grain-oriented electrical steel
- The EU’s measure on ferro-alloying elements
- The UK’s adjustment of tariff-rate quotas (TRQs) on certain steel products
These measures drew multiple interventions from member countries, reflecting their broader impact on global steel trade.
Among the most debated cases were Egypt’s three investigations on iron and steel products, and EU measures and investigations related to steel inputs and specialized steel products These cases generated concerns among multiple WTO members regarding market access and trade distortions.
Dispute over US tariffs intensifies
The meeting also addressed ongoing disagreements over US tariffs. The US stated that its measures are not safeguard actions but are justified under the exception of national security. However, India disagreed with the US characterization of its measures and asserted that based on their characteristics they appeared to be within the scope of the Agreement on Safeguards, while Brazil and China expressed concern about the broader implications of the US measures for the multilateral trading system and global supply chains. Brazil and India said that they would continue to closely monitor developments concerning these measures.
Steel remains at center of global trade tensions
The discussions at the WTO underline the central role of steel in current trade disputes, with safeguard measures increasingly used to address import pressures and protect domestic industries.
At the same time, differing interpretations of trade rules and rising protectionism continue to challenge the multilateral trading system.