# EU and Turkish steel industry trade regulation shifts

> Live situation record from CLSTR: https://clstr.news/situations/eu-and-turkish-steel-industry-trade-regulation-shifts
> Updated: 2026-09-02T07:25:17.000Z. Sources: 8. Developments: 3.

The steel industry in Turkey and the European Union is navigating significant shifts in trade regulations and market competition. In Turkey, the sector faces a growing trade deficit, with imports accounting for nearly 50% of consumption. Local producers struggle to compete with low-priced Chinese imports, which can be offered at approximately $550 per ton.

Simultaneously, the European Union has implemented new regulatory measures. To enhance traceability, the EU has introduced a ‘melt and pour’ criterion, shifting customs compliance focus from the finished product to the industrial origin where the steel was originally melted and cast. 

Following the adoption of Implementing Regulation (EU) 2026/1963, importers must declare the country where steel was ‘melted and poured’ starting October 1, 2026. The Mill Test Certificate (MTC) will serve as the primary documentation, requiring the country of origin and heat number. A one-year transition period will allow the use of alternative documents, such as invoices or customs documents, until September 30, 2027.

Amidst these changes, the industry association EUROMETAL has warned of a regulatory gap. The association argues that while raw steel imports face quotas and Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM) costs, finished goods manufactured outside the EU often enter the bloc without equivalent obligations. EUROMETAL claims this imbalance threatens the competitiveness of European manufacturers and could lead to plant closures and a loss of strategic industrial capabilities in sectors like defense and infrastructure.

## Timeline

### 2026-09-02: European Union implements new steel import traceability rules

The EU is implementing new “melt and pour” traceability rules for steel imports, while EUROMETAL warns that regulatory imbalances between raw steel and finished goods threaten European manufacturing.

3 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/european-union-implements-new-steel-import-traceability-rules

### 2026-08-24: European steel industry faces new regulatory and tariff rules

New EU regulations for the steel industry will introduce stricter tariff quotas and a ‘melt and pour’ traceability criterion starting July 2026, impacting supply chains and costs.

2 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/european-steel-industry-faces-new-regulatory-and-tariff-rules

### 2026-08-20: Turkey steel industry faces rising trade deficit and EU export barriers

Turkey's steel sector faces a growing trade deficit and a projected 50% drop in EU exports due to new EU import quotas and competition from low-priced Chinese steel.

3 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/turkey-steel-industry-faces-rising-trade-deficit-and-eu-export-barriers

---
Cite as: EU and Turkish steel industry trade regulation shifts. CLSTR, https://clstr.news/situations/eu-and-turkish-steel-industry-trade-regulation-shifts