A broad coalition of European steel producers, distributors, processors and processing plants is calling on the European Commission and EU member states to take immediate action to protect the continent's steel and metal value chain from what it calls the accelerating process of deindustrialization.
The call to Action, coordinated by EUROMETAL and supported by more than 350 companies and 40 national associations, has been officially presented to the EU governments and the European Commission. It outlines a comprehensive package of trade, energy and industrial policy measures aimed at stabilizing the sector in the face of growing global challenges. In a statement, EUROMETAL said the initiative reflected an "unprecedented level of consistency" in the industry.
Presenting the initiative at Wire & Tube 2026 in Dusseldorf, EUROMETAL President Alexander Julius highlighted the urgency of the situation, calling it a joint effort "supported by the entire steel value chain" and warned of "the impending loss of key industrial competencies in Europe."
Immediate trade measures in the spotlight of the industry
At the heart of the proposal is the need for more effective and immediately applied trade protection tools. The signatories call for the introduction of a new regime that will replace the current EU protective measures for steel, including tariffs and tariff quotas covering not only steel, but also metal derivatives and heat-intensive products (CN codes 73-95).
The goal is to ensure fair competition and prevent circumvention of the rules, especially in light of the increasingly sophisticated practice of redirecting trade. The proposal also highlights the need to align EU measures with those already in place in major markets such as the United States and Canada.
Julius pointed to "huge cost pressures" and the lack of effective protection mechanisms as key challenges facing European companies.
CBAM expansion is seen as the key to protecting the processing industry
The second key element is the extension of the Carbon Boundary Regulation Mechanism (CBAM) to products produced on the secondary market that require high steel costs. The signatories argue that limiting CBAM to primary steel production could lead to further carbon leakage down the value chain, undermining both industrial activity and climate targets in Europe.
By expanding the scope of CBAM, the alliance aims to prevent the transfer of creation processes
