With Implementing Regulation (EU) 2025/2351, the European Union has introduced definitive safeguard measures against certain ferroalloys. The regulations apply for a period of three years and expire on 17 November 2028. The aim of these measures is to protect the European market from sharp increases in import volumes and to stabilise the competitiveness of domestic producers.
Product groups affected
The new protective measures cover four groups of ferroalloys, each clearly defined by HS or CN codes. These include:
- Ferro-manganese (7202 11, 7202 19)
- Ferro-silicon (7202 21, 7202 29)
- Ferro-silico-manganese (7202 30)
- Ferro-silico-magnesium (7202 99 30)
The measures focus on alloys that are of great economic importance to the European steel and metal industry.
Tariff quotas as the core mechanism
The EU relies on a system of duty-free quotas, which are defined both on a country-specific basis and for ‘all other countries of origin’. The exact quantities per product group are specified in Annex III of the Regulation.
Once a quota is exhausted, a variable additional duty applies. If the import price is above the threshold specified in Annex II, the import remains duty-free. If the import price is below the threshold, a duty equal to the difference between the net price and the price threshold is levied.
Exceptions and specific features
Developing countries
Protective measures do not generally apply to most developing countries. However, there is a restriction for individual countries and types of goods marked with a cross in Annex I, Table I.2.
Imports from Kenya and Ukraine are completely exempt.
EEA countries
The EEA countries Norway and Iceland are not generally exempt. Norway has its own tariff quotas for three product groups.
Goods at sea
Shipments that were already on their way to the EU on the date of entry into force and cannot change their destination may be cleared through customs duty-free, regardless of the price threshold.
Interaction with existing anti-dumping measures
Anti-dumping duties already exist for ferrosilicon, some of which cover the same goods. As a combination of both measures would have a disproportionate effect, the following rule applies:
- Imports within a country’s quotas: anti-dumping duties continue to be levied.
- Quotas for a specific country already exhausted: only the safeguard measures apply, but not anti-dumping duties.
Investigation background
The European Commission initiated the investigation in December 2024 at the request of several Member States. The aim was to examine whether exceptionally high import volumes were causing market distortions. Manufacturers, importers, users and associations were able to actively participate.
The investigation identified significant market shifts: between 2019 and 2024, imports of the ferroalloys concerned increased by 17%. At the same time, the market share of European producers fell from 38% to 24%, which the EU considered a serious threat to industry.
The full legal text can be found at the following link: Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2025/2351
Source: GTAI (in German)
