2019년 EU 철강 세이프가드 조치 분석

Analysis of the EU Steel Safeguard Measure in 2019 Cho, SoojungDirector of Trade Legal Affairs Division, MOTIE The European Union imposed the steel safeguard measure in Feb. 2019, reminding us of the expansion of steel safeguards in 2002. This article first analyses the whole process of this EU safeguard measure, including investigation, provisional measures, definitive measures, compensation consultation, retaliation and review. The EU measure, as the tariff rate quota system, ensures zero duty quota for 110% of average export volume of previous three years and country-specific quota for countries which occupy more than 5% of imports per categories. Thus, it seems to try reflecting the interest of steel producers, users and importers in a balanced way. However, it does not seem to fulfill the WTO requirement for safeguard application, namely the increase of imports, serious injury or threat of injury, causation of the increase of imports and injury, and unforeseen developments, given lack of EU’s individual investigation per each product category, no eligibility of global steel overcapacity/trade restrictive measures/U.S. section 232 measures as unforeseen development and insufficient explanation on serious injury and causation. Korea should closely monitor the development of EU safeguards, reflect its interest in the review process and make effort in preventing steel safeguards expansion.