Eurometal has called for urgent support for the European steel industry

The Eurometal Association, which represents European distributors of steel, pipes, and metal products, together with national federations and steel producers, has called for urgent action to protect the European steel industry.

This was discussed at a press conference during the Tube & Wire exhibition in Düsseldorf, Germany, where the corresponding Call to Action was announced.

As noted, the initiative has brought together stakeholders from across the entire value chain, forming a broad and unified industry coalition, and has already garnered the support of over 300 companies and 35 national steel associations across Europe.

The signatories emphasized the need for the following steps:

• effective and rapidly implementable trade measures aligned with those adopted by the bloc’s trading partners, such as the United States and Canada;
• maintaining the EU’s climate ambitions, but within a framework that does not undermine the global competitiveness of European industry;
• establishing clear “Made in Europe” requirements for strategic materials, such as steel and other critical products, in line with the actions of competitors such as China, India, and the United States. This must be accompanied by competitive energy prices, as well as targeted policies in the labor market and industry;
• preventing job losses and new dependencies on third countries.

The signatories called on the European Commission and the governments of EU member states to implement a package of measures that, in addition to the above, includes extending the CBAM to steel derivatives and steel-intensive products, revising the ETS, and slowing the phase-out of free allowances under the cross-border carbon adjustment mechanism, reducing bureaucracy at the bloc and national levels.

Industry representatives emphasize that the European steel ecosystem is under pressure due to rising imports of processed products, distortions in global trade, protectionist policies of third countries, high energy costs, and excessive regulation in Europe. This poses a threat to the entire value chain.

Consequently, the EU may face an acceleration of deindustrialization with far-reaching economic, social, and strategic consequences. Eurometal has called on policymakers at both the national and European levels to recognize the urgency of the situation and take the necessary actions.

As a reminder, in March, the European Steel Association (EUROFER) called on the EU to implement structural changes to ensure affordable electricity.