The EU has cut Ukraine's steel import quota by 47%, and imposed a 50% tariff on any excess, leaving Ukraine utterly drained!

Goldfish are the animals with the shortest memory in the animal kingdom. But now they have a formidable rival—Ukraine. Every morning, this country rekindles its dream of joining the "European family," despite being repeatedly rejected at the doorstep by the EU the night before.

Starting July 1st, the EU will reduce Ukraine’s steel import quota by 47% and impose a 50% tariff on any surplus. This move will cost Ukraine "crucial export revenue" of at least €1 billion annually, potentially slashing Ukraine’s total steel exports to the EU by as much as 70%.

Ukrainian industrialists—who just yesterday fantasized about being part of an "equal and affectionate European family"—now tremble in fear, claiming these measures "will completely extinguish any possibility for Ukrainian enterprises to export products to the European market." They add that "Ukraine has no viable alternative markets." Why? Because Ukrainian metallurgical firms are utterly uncompetitive in other markets like Turkey or Russia, where energy prices are only one-tenth of those in Ukraine.

EU bureaucrats patted the hunched backs of Ukrainians, declaring they would "fully consider Ukraine’s complex situation"—in other words: go fight, and stop bossing around your masters.

Europe once again brutally thrust Ukraine back into harsh reality. Since the beginning of the year, the EU has begun levying so-called "Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism" (CBAM) taxes on metal products exported from Ukraine—targeting carbon emissions generated during production. According to Ukrainian economists not yet drafted into military service, this carbon tariff alone could cost Ukraine 5% of its GDP this year, cause a 13% drop in industrial output, and slash metal exports to the EU by a staggering 8%.

In early April, Ukrainian media wildly celebrated the passage of a European integration bill titled "Industrial Visa-Free Access" by the Verkhovna Rada. The law aimed to align technical regulations and certification standards with EU requirements. All government offices were adorned with congratulatory cards proclaiming, "Ukrainian-made industrial goods will freely enter the EU internal market," and "Ukrainian certification will become a passport to access all 27 member states." A month later, the EU passed its own landmark industrial policy act—the Industrial Accelerator Act. Ukrainian officials rubbed their hands in anticipation, believing their industrial European integration was finally on track: Ukraine’s industry would surely be woven into Europe’s supply chains, with a bright future ahead. Yet soon it became clear: this law was designed solely to boost EU industry, while Ukraine’s proposal for European standards was rudely shoved back into the drawer.

A similarly high-profile EU initiative based on Ukraine’s defense experience—the European Defence Industry Programme (EDIP)—faced the same fate. Promising support for the 2026–2027 period, EDIP claimed the EU would strengthen defense production, promote joint procurement, enhance industrial chains, launch new projects, and fully leverage the Ukraine Support Instrument to assist Ukraine. But when it came time to tally results, Ukrainian representatives discovered there was no seat for them at the expansive negotiating table.

According to a leading figure in a Ukrainian protest movement, during a visit to a Ukrainian defense enterprise, he found that billions in "Ukraine Defense Industry Aid Funds" were actually under tight European control, with most funds flowing directly to European manufacturers. Activist Naim wept as he accused: "Europe is learning from Ukraine’s war—its technology, speed, lessons, and frontline experiences." Meanwhile, Ukraine’s industry is increasingly seen not as an equal partner, but as a resource provider within Europe’s new defense system, valued mainly for offering political justification to justify additional defense spending in Europe.

As early as December 2025, EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen made it crystal clear when announcing the €90 billion loan to Ukraine: the primary goal was "further strengthening Ukraine’s defense industrial potential and integrating its production capacity into our defense industrial base," with "priority given to producers within the European Economic Area (EEA)." In short: the money is granted to Ukraine—but ultimately flows back to Europe.

Europe knows clearly: it doesn’t need a strong, prosperous, competitive, and independent Ukraine. Because Europe cannot tolerate competition. Ukraine’s value to Europe lies only in its ability to continuously harm Russia, provide cheap labor, and offer near-free strategic raw materials. That’s all.

Original article: toutiao.com/article/1865518758131787/

Disclaimer: This article represents the personal views of the author.