[EC opens consultation on expanding product scope of EU Steel Regulation]
The European Commission has launched an 8-week targeted consultation (28 July–28 September) to review whether the EU Steel Regulation's product list should expand to cover cast iron pipes/hollow sections, unalloyed and alloy wire, stainless steel wire, and unalloyed/alloy forged bars; input from producers, consumers, distributors, importers, and industry groups will feed into a review due by 31 December 2026. The regulation currently sets a duty-free quota of 18.3 million tonnes with a 50% duty on excess volumes, plus a "melted and poured" origin-transparency rule, Ukraine's annual quota under the scheme stands at 1.05 million tonnes.