EU Safeguard Investigation on Grain-Oriented Electrical Steel
Summary
The European Union has initiated a safeguard investigation into imports of grain-oriented electrical steel. Interested parties must submit information and views within 21 days of the initiation date, with a deadline for making themselves known to the Commission within 15 days.
What changed
The European Union, through its Directorate-General for Trade and Economic Security, has launched a safeguard investigation into imports of grain-oriented electrical steel. This investigation, initiated on March 27, 2026, aims to determine if increased imports are causing or threatening serious injury to the domestic EU industry. Interested parties, including importers and exporters, are required to submit completed questionnaires within 21 days of the initiation date.
Parties wishing to participate must make their views known in writing and provide supporting evidence within 21 days of initiation. To be considered, representations must be submitted promptly. Parties must also make themselves known to the Commission within 15 days of initiation, preferably by email. Failure to meet these deadlines may result in submissions being disregarded. The investigation is being conducted under WTO safeguard rules, which allow for temporary import restrictions if serious injury is found.
What to do next
- Submit completed questionnaires within 21 days of March 27, 2026.
- Make views and supporting evidence known in writing within 21 days of March 27, 2026.
- Contact the Commission within 15 days of March 27, 2026, to make yourself known as an interested party.
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safeguard measures
EU launches safeguard investigation on grain-oriented electrical steel
On 27 March 2026, the European Union notified the WTO's Committee on Safeguards that it had initiated, on the same day (27 March 2026), a safeguard investigation on imports of grain-oriented electrical steel.
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In the notification, the EU indicated, among other things, as follows:
"4. Provide a point of contact for the investigation and identify the preferred means for corresponding
Commission address for correspondence:
European Commission
Directorate-General for Trade and Economic Security
Directorate G, Unit G5
Office: CHAR 03/66
1049 Bruxelles/Brussel
BELGIQUE/BELGI?
E-mail address: [email protected] "
In the notification, the EU also provided the following details regarding deadlines and procedures to present evidence and views by interested parties:
" In order to obtain the information it deems necessary for its investigation, the Commission has published questionnaires, available at the website of the Directorate-General for Trade and Economic Security (1). The completed questionnaires must reach the Commission within 21 days from the date of initiation.
All interested parties are invited to make known their views in writing, submit information and to provide supporting evidence. Representations in a free format should be submitted within 21 days from the date of initiation. Interested parties may make themselves known by contacting the Commission, preferably by e-mail, immediately but no later than 15 days after the date of initiation. Any submission of views and information after the above deadlines may be disregarded.
All interested parties may also apply to be heard by the Commission within 21 days of the day of initiation. All written submissions in the investigation should be filed with the Commission as set out in the Notice of Initiation."
The notification is available in G/SG/N/6/EU/3.?
Footnotes
What is a safeguard investigation?
A safeguard investigation seeks to determine whether increased imports of a product are causing, or is threatening to cause, serious injury to a domestic industry.
During a safeguard investigation, importers, exporters and other interested parties may present evidence and views and respond to the presentations of other parties.
A WTO member may take a safeguard action (i.e. restrict imports of a product temporarily) only if the increased imports of the product are found to be causing, or threatening to cause, serious injury.
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