EU Plans to Raise Steel Tariffs, China Steel Allocates Refined Steel Products, Yeh Hwei Takes Orders in Advance
The EU plans to raise steel import tariffs to 50% and reduce duty-free quotas. China Steel announced it will prioritize refined steel products and explore new markets to cope. Yeh Hwei anticipated these measures and has already secured orders until the third quarter. Taiwan's Ministry of Economic Affairs stated that the full impact on Taiwanese industries remains uncertain until the bill is formally adopted and detailed measures are announced.
📋 Article Processing Timeline
- 📰 Published: April 15, 2026 at 21:52
- 🔍 Collected: April 15, 2026 at 22:02 (9 min after Published)
- 🤖 AI Analyzed: April 15, 2026 at 22:03 (1 min after Collected)
Central News Agency
(Central News Agency reporter Ho Hsiu-ling, Taipei, 15th) The EU plans to raise steel import tariffs to 50% and reduce duty-free quotas. China Steel stated that it will prioritize the allocation of refined steel products and explore new emerging markets to cope; Yeh Hwei stated that it had anticipated the relevant measures and had taken orders in advance, with current orders scheduled until the third quarter of this year.
The Ministry of Economic Affairs stated on the 14th that the EU plans to raise steel import tariffs to 50%, and the relevant bill is still awaiting formal adoption by the European Council and the European Parliament. The detailed配套 measures have not yet been announced, and the subsequent impact on Taiwan's industries will depend on the EU's final quota design.
China Steel responded today, stating that Europe is one of China Steel's main export markets, and the order volume for Europe in 2025 accounts for about 12% of its total exports; the EU's plan to raise steel import tariffs and significantly reduce duty-free quotas shows that the EU's defensive attitude towards overcapacity and low-price competition has significantly increased.
China Steel pointed out that steel trade is accelerating towards regionalization, and China Steel has also initiated adjustment mechanisms, planning to prioritize high-value refined steel products within the limited quota, while also prioritizing the needs of domestic downstream industries, and continuing to explore emerging markets such as South America, South Asia, and Africa to diversify the risk of policy changes in a single region.
In addition, to prevent Taiwan from becoming a transshipment point for low-priced steel products and to protect local industries from unfair competition, China Steel stated that it will maintain contact with the government and industry associations to carefully respond to subsequent developments.
Yeh Hwei Vice President Tien Wen-chung told the Central News Agency reporter that the EU market accounts for 10% to 15% of Yeh Hwei's export proportion. In the past, the proportion was even higher, but later, due to the EU's implementation of safeguard measures and the US's imposition of steel tariffs, the proportion of exports to the EU has gradually decreased.
He said that Taiwan has a quota under the EU system, which is allocated to each company based on past actual export proportions, and the quotas obtained by each company vary. Yeh Hwei had learned about the EU's plan to raise tariffs 2 to 3 months ago, and since the duty-free quota is limited, they usually take European orders earlier.
Regarding the order situation, he said that the current orders received are still expected to fall within the quota, otherwise importers would not place orders, and current orders are already scheduled until the third quarter. (Editor: Yang Kai-hsiang) 1150415
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(Central News Agency reporter Ho Hsiu-ling, Taipei, 15th) The EU plans to raise steel import tariffs to 50% and reduce duty-free quotas. China Steel stated that it will prioritize the allocation of refined steel products and explore new emerging markets to cope; Yeh Hwei stated that it had anticipated the relevant measures and had taken orders in advance, with current orders scheduled until the third quarter of this year.
The Ministry of Economic Affairs stated on the 14th that the EU plans to raise steel import tariffs to 50%, and the relevant bill is still awaiting formal adoption by the European Council and the European Parliament. The detailed配套 measures have not yet been announced, and the subsequent impact on Taiwan's industries will depend on the EU's final quota design.
China Steel responded today, stating that Europe is one of China Steel's main export markets, and the order volume for Europe in 2025 accounts for about 12% of its total exports; the EU's plan to raise steel import tariffs and significantly reduce duty-free quotas shows that the EU's defensive attitude towards overcapacity and low-price competition has significantly increased.
China Steel pointed out that steel trade is accelerating towards regionalization, and China Steel has also initiated adjustment mechanisms, planning to prioritize high-value refined steel products within the limited quota, while also prioritizing the needs of domestic downstream industries, and continuing to explore emerging markets such as South America, South Asia, and Africa to diversify the risk of policy changes in a single region.
In addition, to prevent Taiwan from becoming a transshipment point for low-priced steel products and to protect local industries from unfair competition, China Steel stated that it will maintain contact with the government and industry associations to carefully respond to subsequent developments.
Yeh Hwei Vice President Tien Wen-chung told the Central News Agency reporter that the EU market accounts for 10% to 15% of Yeh Hwei's export proportion. In the past, the proportion was even higher, but later, due to the EU's implementation of safeguard measures and the US's imposition of steel tariffs, the proportion of exports to the EU has gradually decreased.
He said that Taiwan has a quota under the EU system, which is allocated to each company based on past actual export proportions, and the quotas obtained by each company vary. Yeh Hwei had learned about the EU's plan to raise tariffs 2 to 3 months ago, and since the duty-free quota is limited, they usually take European orders earlier.
Regarding the order situation, he said that the current orders received are still expected to fall within the quota, otherwise importers would not place orders, and current orders are already scheduled until the third quarter. (Editor: Yang Kai-hsiang) 1150415
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The text, pictures, and audio-visual content of this website may not be reproduced, publicly broadcast, publicly transmitted, or utilized without authorization.
FAQ
How will China Steel respond to the EU's plan to raise steel import tariffs?
China Steel will prioritize the allocation of high-value refined steel products and explore emerging markets such as South America, South Asia, and Africa.
How did Yeh Hwei prepare for the EU's tariff increase plan?
Yeh Hwei anticipated the EU's tariff increase plan and has already secured orders until the third quarter of this year.