Decision
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Instrument — Extension of Autonomous Trade Measures (ATMs) for Ukrainian metallurgy.
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Duration — 3 years, effective immediately after the current package lapses on 6 June 2025.
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Coverage — Full suspension of quotas, antidumping duties and safeguard tariffs on iron and steel shipped from Ukraine to any EU member state.
Rationale
| Factor | Detail |
|---|---|
| Sectoral hardship | War damage, lost capacity and disrupted logistics have cut domestic output; duty-free access helps plants run above break-even. |
| Market appetite | EU mills and downstream users face tight supply and decarbonisation targets; Ukrainian semi-finished products bridge the gap without distorting prices. |
| Macroeconomic impact | Metallurgy remains a top hard-currency earner: $1.8 bn in exports to the EU during 2024 (3.4 mt) and $422 mn in Q1-2025 (0.8 mt). |
| Political signal | Sustained trade “open-door” reinforces EU solidarity and underlines Ukraine’s future single-market integration. |
Comment – Yuliia Svyrydenko, First Deputy PM | Economy Minister
“Our smelters and rolling mills have taken the brunt of Russian attacks; access to Europe keeps furnaces lit, people employed and reconstruction funded. Brussels’ decision arrives at a critical juncture for both our economy and European supply chains.”
Next steps
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Industry planning – Ukrainian producers can lock in forward contracts with European buyers through 2028, supporting cap-ex and maintenance programmes.
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Regulatory watch – Kyiv continues technical alignment with EU carbon-border and green-steel standards to secure long-term competitiveness.
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Broader trade agenda – Government pursues extension of “industrial visa-free” provisions covering machinery and processed goods, to mirror metallurgy success.
Renewed duty-free status provides Ukraine’s ferrous sector with a clear three-year runway—vital breathing space while reconstruction and modernisation pick up pace.
