Brussels has warned that US tariffs could “worsen” metal recycling rates in Europe.
The European Commission said the 50 per cent duty slapped on many imported steel and aluminium products from around the world by president Donald Trump would push up global prices for these materials.
And with scrap excluded from the tariffs, export of secondary metals has become more attractive, it added.
The Commission this month activated a new customs surveillance system to monitor recovered steel and aluminium crossing its borders.
“The EU is experiencing a decline in metal scrap availability for recycling… because of scrap leakage to third countries,” it said.
“The introduction of a 50 per cent tariff by the US on a wide range of steel and aluminium products excluding scrap may further worsen this issue as rising global prices of primary materials increase the incentive to export scrap abroad.
“The Commission has activated the customs surveillance system to monitor the import and export of metal waste and scrap into and out of the EU, covering ferrous waste and scrap including steel, aluminium and copper.”
It added that it would use the data it gathers to “assess if any further action is necessary by the end of the third quarter of 2025”.
