The proposal for a ‘highly effective’ new trade measure to counter global overcapacity and preserve the European steel industry’s capacities, published yesterday by France on behalf of a group of 11 Member States, is a timely initiative, says the European Steel Association (EUROFER).
France’s initiative, backed by strong Member State support, has paved the way for a much-needed and ‘highly effective’ EU trade measure to preserve a viable EU steel industry says EUROFER.
According to EUROFER, "the non-paper sets a clear course towards a comprehensive steel trade measure to replace the current safeguard regime at a critical moment, as the negative impacts of global overcapacity on the European steel industry continue to grow."
Axel Eggert, director-general of EUROFER, commented: “We welcome and strongly support this proposal, initiated by French Minister Ferracci with the backing of a significant number of key steel-producing Member States, including, besides France, Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Greece, Italy, Luxembourg, Poland, Romania, Slovakia and Spain."
“We expect the European Commission to give due consideration to constructive Member State initiatives that are clearly aligned with the ambition of the Steel and Metals Action Plan (SMAP) in ‘promoting and protecting European industrial capacities’ and ‘defending quality industrial jobs."
Axel Eggert, director-general, European Steel Association (EUROFER).
Eggert said that EUROFER calls upon other Member States, the European Parliament and the Commission to fully support the initiative. "This is exactly the kind of co-ordinated, ambitious action we need to stop the tsunami of cheap steel imports from destroying Europe’s industrial base, jobs, and green transition."
Urgency and political determination, said Eggert, are now more critical than ever. "Every day lost is a step further away from European industrial sovereignty”, he said.
“We expect the European Commission to give due consideration to constructive Member State initiatives that are clearly aligned with the ambition of the Steel and Metals Action Plan (SMAP) in ‘promoting and protecting European industrial capacities’ and ‘defending quality industrial jobs’. In a rapidly changing and increasingly uncertain geo-economic context, time is running out. We urge the Commission to present as soon as possible its proposal for a ‘highly effective’ trade measure as committed under the SMAP, and to implement it without delay—well before the current safeguard regime expires. The ongoing uncertainty surrounding EU steel exports to the US and the lack of clarity around a potential EU-U.S. ‘Metals Club’ to tackle global overcapacity, clearly demonstrate that European steelmakers cannot afford further EU inaction. Europe can only be stronger with European steel,” concluded Mr Eggert.