The European Union has announced the introduction of tariffs on Norwegian ferroalloys, key materials used in steel production, citing “serious harm” to EU industry caused by rising imports. The measure, communicated in a letter to the EEA countries, will apply from 19 August for an initial period of 200 days.
The floating tariffs will be triggered when import prices fall below a minimum threshold set by the EU. According to the European Commission, the decision falls under Article 113 of the EEA Agreement, which allows for temporary safeguards to address exceptional market disturbances. EU producers have reported declines in output, sales, market share and employment, prompting the need for what Brussels has described as an urgent protective response.
Norway’s steel industry voices strong opposition
The move has drawn immediate criticism from Norsk Industri, the main federation representing Norway’s industrial sector. “We take this situation very seriously,” said managing director Harald Solberg, warning that the EU decision risks marginalising Norwegian producers despite the close economic ties established through the European Economic Area (EEA).
Solberg emphasised that Norwegian companies operate under the same regulatory framework as EU manufacturers and should therefore be included in any safeguard mechanisms. Europe remains the most important market for Norway’s ferroalloy producers, who now fear competitive disadvantage.
Local producers concerned about competitiveness
Companies such as Eramet, which manufactures manganese alloys at its plant in Kvinesdal, expressed concern over the decision. Factory director Aida Bermudéz said the tariff would weaken their position in an already difficult market environment marked by volatile energy prices and rising costs from the EU’s carbon trading system.
“We must continue to work to reverse this decision,” Bermudéz told Norwegian media, highlighting the surprise felt by producers who had assumed that EEA membership would shield them from such unilateral EU actions.
EEA relationship under scrutiny
The imposition of tariffs has reignited debate over Norway’s role within the EEA framework, which is intended to ensure frictionless trade within the EU’s internal market. While the EU insists the measure is temporary and necessary to protect its steel industry, the decision underscores the asymmetric vulnerabilities faced by non-EU EEA countries.
Norwegian authorities have not yet officially responded, but had previously stated their intention to work closely with Brussels to defend national interests and avoid being caught in broader trade protection measures. The case adds pressure on both sides to clarify the limits and commitments implied by the EEA agreement in times of economic stress.
