EU import levy on transformers

What has changed

On 18 September 2026 the European Commission published Implementing Regulation (EU) 2026/2133. It imposes a provisional safeguard duty on imports of electrical steel and transformer cores. The duty also applies when the core is already built into a complete transformer.

For cores built into transformers, Article 1(6) of the regulation sets a fixed duty of EUR 1,140 per tonne of core, without a quota. The importer declares the core weight in tonnes when the transformer is released for free circulation. The regulation entered into force on 25 September 2026 and applies for 155 days, until 26 February 2027; the Commission can extend it or replace it with a definitive measure.

Which transformers are affected

• All transformers with a steel core under CN codes 8504 21 to 8504 34: oil-immersed and dry-type distribution and power transformers of every rating.
• The duty depends on the non-preferential origin of the transformer, as determined by customs. Transformers originating in Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway, Ukraine or Kenya are exempt.
• Among developing WTO countries only China, Türkiye and the United Arab Emirates are subject to the duty on cores. Transformers originating in other developing WTO countries, such as India, are exempt.
• Transformers manufactured in the EU are not imported and carry no duty per tonne of core. Their manufacturers do pay a safeguard duty on the electrical steel and cores they import, so their prices are affected too.

This affects every supplier in the EU

The levy is a government charge collected by customs on import. It applies to every importer in the European Union, so every supplier that brings transformers into the EU from the origins listed above faces the same cost, and EU manufacturers face a safeguard duty on the steel and cores they import. It is not a Protrafo surcharge, and it cannot be avoided by ordering elsewhere within the EU.

What it means for your quote

• New quotes state the expected levy as a separate line, based on the core weight and origin confirmed by the manufacturer. Statutory levies that arise after the quotation date are passed on in full.
• We pass the levy on at cost: the amount we pay to customs, without any surcharge or margin.
• The customs declaration and the manufacturer's weight certificate are available on request, so you can verify the amount.
• Units that were cleared through EU customs before 25 September 2026, such as part of our stock in Emmen, are not subject to the levy. Your quote states whether the levy applies to a specific stock unit.

What it means for orders already placed

Because the date of customs clearance is decisive, the levy also applies to orders placed before 18 September 2026 that are cleared on or after 25 September 2026. At the time we accepted those orders the levy was neither known nor included in the price. We contact each affected customer individually with the amount for their order, record it in an addendum and invoice the levy separately after clearance.

How the amount is calculated

Levy = core weight in tonnes × EUR 1,140. The core weight is stated by the manufacturer and confirmed in writing. Worked example: a core of 1.20 tonnes gives a levy of EUR 1,368. The rest of the transformer (tank, windings, oil, accessories) is not part of the calculation.

Questions

Call us on +31 (0)85 760 7033 or email info@protrafo.com. We speak English, German and Dutch. This page is updated when the European Commission changes the measure.