Poland is seeking protective measures from the European Union to mitigate the impact of duty-free Ukrainian steel imports on its domestic steel sector. According to Warsaw officials, the influx of cheap steel from Ukraine is threatening local producers. The move follows a similar pattern of protectionist efforts by Poland last year, when it sought to safeguard its agricultural industry from Ukrainian imports.

Data from the Polish steelmakers’ lobby group, HIPH, shows that imports of Ukrainian steel to Poland increased by approximately half last year and rose by an additional 27% in the first half of 2025. This surge in imports has prompted local producers to demand government intervention. Deputy Development and Technology Minister Michal Baranowski stated that the significant increase in Ukrainian steel imports is exerting substantial pressure on the Polish steel industry, and the government is working with the European Commission to address the issue.

The Polish steel industry contends that Ukrainian products, which enter the market duty-free, do not incur the same energy and environmental costs as their EU counterparts. The surge in imports has been largely driven by reinforcement bars, a sector where Polish mills have a competitive focus. The European Commission has proposed a long-term mechanism to limit tariff-free steel imports from all partners, including Ukraine, which includes imposing a 50% duty on imports that exceed established quotas.

However, the pressure from Ukrainian steel imports is already affecting the broader Polish industry. Warsaw-listed coking coal company JSW has reported five consecutive loss-making quarters and may require state support. Steel producer Cognor Holding’s chief financial officer, Krystian Gunia, emphasized the need for immediate protection, citing the potential idling of the company’s new $217 million rolling mill due to pressure from cheap Ukrainian imports.

Poland plans to seek an EU ban on Ukrainian steel imports once it completes a market analysis documenting the negative impact. The government’s efforts to protect its domestic steel sector highlight the significance of the issue and the need for prompt action to prevent further damage to the industry. The outcome of Poland’s request for protective measures will be closely watched, as it may have implications for the EU’s trade policies and the steel industry as a whole.