EU Trade Commissioner Cecilia Malmstrom said there could be provisional safeguard measures for the steel industry starting mid-July. The European Commission is still in process of investigation the measures needed after US steel and aluminum tariffs.
Malmstrom said “this is an investigation that will probably take until the end of the year before we can get the full picture.” But she emphasized that “we are seriously contemplating to have provisional measures in place, I would say mid-July could be some provisional measures. Exactly what form that will take is still under discussion.”
Separately, UK International Trade Minister Liam Fox said separately in the parliament that “we are looking to see what impact there may be from any diversion and whether we need to introduce safeguards to protect UK steel producers.” And, “the earliest time that is likely to happen would be early to mid-July. We are already seeing some movements that I think may justify that.” He added that “as soon as we have the evidence to be able to justify such a decision, we would take it.”
