In brief
Ukraine’s steel sector, crucial to its economy and land stewardship, faces a 60% cut in EU market access due to new tariffs aimed at cheap imports. Metinvest CEO Yuriy Ryzhenkov demands an exemption, citing the war’s crippling strikes, lost workers and the strategic importance of the industry. While the EU says it considered Ukraine’s difficult situation, the industry warns that the measures will threaten survival, local livelihoods, and environmental protection linked to the steel chain.
The European Union’s new steel import quota, designed to shield member‑state manufacturers from cheap competitors, has put a steel‑heavy economy into a new conflict. The 18.3‑million‑tonne cap – a 47% reduction from 2024 levels – could cut Ukrainian exports by roughly 50–60 %, weighing heavily on workers and the nation’s role as a land steward.
Metinvest’s chief executive, Yuriy Ryzhenkov, denounced the measures as unfair and bundled with sanctions on other importers. He argued that Ukraine’s frontline status and its stewardship of raw materials deserve a special exemption, reminding the BBC that war has halted production at the Zaporizhstal plant and that the sector has suffered bombed mills and nearly 800 lost workers.
The new rule applies even alongside a free‑trade agreement, which does not protect a country from protective tariffs. The EU claims it considered Ukraine’s difficulty, but the steel boss insists Ukraine was treated the same as other importers, ignoring its unique wartime challenges.
Steel production is more than a national income source; it sits atop ecosystems of forests, rivers and mineral resources that support farmers, foresters and indigenous groups. With production stalls and damaged supply chains, these communities face added stress and risk of livelihood loss.
While the EU has promised compensations to its largest suppliers, including Ukraine, the practical effect remains unclear. For a country mobilising defence and reconstruction, losing a sizeable portion of its only viable market could expose communities to further hardship, affecting both hard steel and the environmental stewardship that ties production to land care.
With the upcoming winter projected as the hardest yet, Metinvest and Ukrainian workers call for solidarity: a proper exemption that recognises Ukraine’s frontline state and protects the vital link between industry, culture and the environment.
