EU industry struggles with new US rules on imports of steel and aluminium

Published on 19/09/2025 - 16:35 GMT+2

New US tariffs connected alloy and aluminium designed to find nan root of alloy and aluminium wrong imported products are creating an further costs successful summation to nan baseline US tariffs, according to representatives of EU industry.

“Determining nan nonstop root of alloy aliases aluminium nether nan 'melt and pour' rule is highly analyzable and often requires practice crossed aggregate tiers of suppliers, galore of whom whitethorn not person this accusation themselves,” a spokesperson from nan European Automobile Manufacturers’ Association (ACEA), told Euronews.

She added: “The business is further analyzable erstwhile a azygous portion falls nether respective tariff categories astatine once, specified arsenic steel, aluminium, and copper.”

In June, nan US management imposed 50% US tariffs connected EU alloy and aluminium imported to nan US. And it went further successful August by adding 407 further merchandise categories specified arsenic occurrence extinguishers, machinery, upwind turbines aliases building materials that incorporate aliases are contained successful aluminium aliases steel.

“Substantial” financial impact

“While astir automotive-specific products stay extracurricular nan scope, galore generic materials basal to car manufacturing are now affected,” ACEA’s spokesperson said.

Some car companies are already facing a “substantial” financial impact, according to nan lobby which is still consolidating figures connected nan consequences for nan sector.

Under nan EU-US waste and acquisition statement reached successful August, EU cars are already deed by 15% US tariffs.

Identifying nan root of products is simply a existent headache for industries, which kick astir nan administrative load and nan associated costs.

“These tariffs spot important unit connected nan instrumentality instrumentality sector, expanding costs and uncertainty for European exporters, creating further administrative burdens related to alloy root declaration requirements,” said successful a connection CECIMO, nan European relation of manufacturing technologies.

The EU didn't unafraid tariff exemptions for alloy and aluminium arriving successful nan US wrong nan waste and acquisition statement concluded successful July, but is still hoping to agree tariff complaint quotas pinch nan US administration which would easiness nan load for EU exports to nan US.