On July 23, the European Commission officially launched a customs monitoring system to comprehensively monitor the import and export of scrap metal raw materials, including iron scrap, steel scrap, aluminum, and copper.
This initiative stems from the EU's Steel and Metals Action Plan, adopted on March 19, aimed at alleviating competitive pressures facing the EU's metals industry. The plan focuses on promoting metal recycling and industry emissions reductions to support the EU's 2040 greenhouse gas emissions reduction target of 90% compared to 1990 levels. The EU is currently facing an outflow of recyclable metal scrap, and the impact of the US's 50% tariff on certain steel and aluminum products has further exacerbated the supply pressure on the EU's scrap metal supply.
The European Commission emphasized that the newly established customs monitoring system will collect real-time scrap metal trade data, providing a basis for formulating targeted trade policies and ensuring the security of scrap steel resources within the EU. The system data will be updated monthly to ensure transparency.
In addition, the European Commission is consulting with industry stakeholders to assess whether to include metal scrap in the list of key controlled goods, and plans to decide on follow-up measures based on monitoring data in the third quarter of 2025.