From Trump’s Tariffs to Rolling Lists: The Evolving US Threat to EU Steel

What began as Donald Trump’s punitive 50% tariffs on steel imports has evolved into a more complex and unpredictable threat to European industry: a “rolling list” of derivative products. This ever-expanding catalog of goods containing metal is causing fresh alarm, with fears that items like windows, doors, and furniture could be the next targets.
The initial tariffs were a blunt instrument designed to protect the US steel industry. However, the policy has since become more nuanced and, in many ways, more dangerous for exporters. In August, the US designated 407 product categories as “derivatives,” subjecting goods from wind turbines to rail cars to duties based on their metal content.
This new phase is defined by uncertainty. European industry leaders believe a new US consultation is designed to expand the list, which could be reviewed three times a year. This creates a constantly shifting trade landscape, making it impossible for businesses to plan. As one industry leader put it, the relationship with the US is now “quite turbulent.”
The operational challenges are immense. Manufacturers of complex products like motorcycles are struggling to provide a perfect accounting of their steel usage. Faced with crippling 200% penalties for errors, some are opting to over-declare their metal content, a costly but safer alternative.
This evolution from a straightforward tariff to a complex, ever-changing list represents a significant escalation. European trade bodies are now calling for new, robust measures to defend the entire manufacturing sector, arguing that the viability of millions of jobs is at stake in this new chapter of transatlantic trade tensions.