European policymakers seek Russian steel import ban

A citizens initiative petition and a proposal by members of the European Parliament (MEPs) each have as their aim to stop the import of Russian steel slabs into the European Union.

The EU has taken several measures to demonstrate support for Ukraine and place restrictions on Russian economic activity since Russian troops invaded Ukraine in 2022, but blocking steel slab imports has not been one of them.

As related in both the citizens initiative and an online news article describing the MEP effort, rolling mill operators in countries including Belgium, the Czech Republic and Italy continue to import slabs made in Russia by companies possibly including NLMK and Evraz. NLMK continues to operate steel-related facilities in Belgium, Denmark and Italy, according to a news report.

Backers of EU citizens initiatives are expected to demonstrate support from at least 1 million EU citizens from a minimum of seven nations. When 1 million such signatures are gathered, the initiative can be submitted for consideration by the European Commission, according to an EU government website describing the process.

Organizers of an initiative who now are attempting to gathering sufficient signatures have entitled the initiative, “Stop Funding Russia’s War: Phase Out Harmful and Useless Russian Imports into the EU.”

“While European and allied producers are fully capable of supplying the market, a long-standing exemption allows these imports to continue until 2028,” write the organizers regarding steel imports.

“In practice, this carve-out exists almost entirely for the benefit of a single (Russian) company, while the European steel sector struggles under carbon costs and unfair subsidized competition,” they continue. “This is not the kind of economic model Europeans want, nor one that can withstand the geopolitical pressures of our time.”

The initiative mentions chemicals and fertilizers in addition to steel, but its backers point to steel as a sector where other options exist. “The frustration that inspires this initiative is shared by citizens across Europe who see their governments debating how to finance support for Ukraine while, at the same time, EU import statistics reveal a steady stream of payments to Russia. We are told solidarity requires sacrifice, yet we allow trade patterns that contradict both our values and our security interests.”

Add the petition backers, “For steel, Europe has substantial unused capacity; allied partners can supply what we cannot (for slabs Brazil, Vietnam and many others).”

A Feb. 5 article on the Politico website describes an effort by MEPs “to graft a ban on Russian steel onto” a piece of legislation expected to pass that will impose a 50 percent tariff on steel imports.

The article indicates EU imported about $ 2 billion worth of Russian steel products in the first 10 months of 2025, citing a recent analysis based on Eurostat data. “Although most categories slumped, semi-finished products like slabs for further processing in the EU actually saw an 8.4 percent increase” year-on-year, says the media outlet.

Politico says the semi-finished slabs are still permitted into the trading bloc “because Belgium, Czechia and Italy requested they remain available for factories that they say have no alternative sources of supply.”

A Swedish MEP quoted by Politico expresses frustration with the ongoing Russian commercial activity and the elected officials that condone them. “We’ve heard those arguments before when it came to oil and gas: we’re not ready, there’s no alternatives, it’s too difficult,” says Karin Karlsbro. “And yet, an agreement was reached.”

Between the proposed 50 percent tariff and potential ban on Russian slabs, the policies could boost capacity rates at current and under construction recycled-content electric arc furnace (EAF) steel mills in the EU.