The proposed EU move comes after US President Donald Trump also imposed 50% tariffs to keep out cheap metal imports from China [as the EU fears that Chinese supplies are now redirected from the US to the EU].

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The scheme is meant to permanently replace the safeguard clause that is currently in place, in which 25% duties are imposed when set import quotas are exceeded. That clause expires next year.

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Last year, China produced more than a billion metric tons (1.1 billion US tons) of steel, far surpassing its next rival India, which managed 149 million metric tons.

Japan came in third with 84 million metric tons, followed by the US with some 79 million tons.

Germany produced some 37 million tons, while French production was less than 11 million tons, with the EU as a whole accounting for 129.5 million tons.

The steel sector employs around 300,000 people in Europe.

However, nearly 100,000 jobs have been lost in the past 15 years, the industry says.

There are also 2.3 million indirect jobs put at risk by the current crisis, according to Eurofer.

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