In June 8th, novel coronavirus pneumonia issued a statement by some European steel producers, urging the EU to cut import quotas for steel products, and warned that the possibility of massive imports of steel would threaten the European steel industry, which has been hit hard by the new crown pneumonia epidemic.

Previously, the United States imposed a 25% tariff on imported steel, leading many exporters to turn to the European market. "At present, the European steel industry is facing severe challenges, and the European Commission's Steel Safeguard review proposal does not consider the sharp decline in demand." According to a letter from the European steel union.

Since March, EU steel demand has fallen by 50% and 40% of EU steel workers have been fired or working part-time.

It is understood that under the safeguard measures, the EU set the import quota of 26 kinds of steel including stainless steel to increase by 5% on the average import level from 2015 to 2017, reduce the growth rate of 5% to 3% in 2019, and pay 25% tariff for imported products exceeding the quota.