European manufacturers complained that the EU has refused their proposal to significantly increase the import quota for exempting 25% tariffs.

Although the steel prices have been pushed up due to the tight supply, the European Commission has only decided to slightly increase the tariff-free steel import quota to 4% from the previous 3% for the next 12 months.

Regarding the decision, European business groups, including APPLiA (Home Appliance Europe) and European Automobile Manufacturers' Association (ACEA), said that the increase was totally not enough to give European manufacturers to get competitive steel and meet their demand, and steel mills would therefore be forced to move out of Europe.