The Council of the European Union's Working Party on Trade Questions is scheduled to meet on 7 July 2026 to discuss EU trade policy priorities and measures to address global steel overcapacity, according to a notice of meeting and provisional agenda published on 1 July 2026.
The meeting will open with the adoption of the agenda and a discussion of the Irish Presidency's trade priorities. A key item on the agenda is a review of developments in the OECD Steel Committee and the Global Forum on Steel Excess Capacity (GFSEC). The Working Party will then examine Commission proposals to tackle the effects of global overcapacity on the EU steel market, including stakeholder consultation results on 'melt and pour' provisions. These provisions aim to ensure that steel imported into the EU is melted and poured in the country of origin, preventing circumvention of trade measures. The group is also set to consider an implementing act for these provisions.
Under 'any other business', the Working Party will discuss outcomes of Article XXVIII negotiations on final apportionments and final allocations of tariff rate quota volumes to third countries. These allocations could affect trade relations with key steel-exporting nations and market access for EU producers.
The meeting could shape EU trade policy direction under the Irish Presidency and may lead to stricter measures against global steel overcapacity, impacting the competitiveness of the EU steel market. Implementation of 'melt and pour' provisions would alter steel import rules and supply chains, while final tariff rate quota allocations could influence trade flows with third countries.
No prior coverage of this specific meeting exists in recent EU Matrix archives.