German Steel Federation welcomes new EU protective quota measures

The decision, which is expected to be approved today by the Council of the European Union, paves the way for a new instrument to protect trade in the steel sector. The German Steel Manufacturers' Federation (WV Stahl) clearly welcomed this decision. The document provides for the establishment of certain tariff quotas for individual countries and products. Only imports exceeding these quotas will be subject to a 50% tariff.

Gunnar Grobler, President of the German Steel Industry Federation, commented: "Today's decision is a powerful signal for steel production in Germany and Europe. Following approval by the European Parliament, the Council is now clarifying the timing before the current protective measures expire at the end of June. This demonstrates the EU's determination and shows that anyone who seeks to ensure the creation of industrial value, high-quality jobs and the production of environmentally neutral raw materials in Europe must ensure fair competitive conditions." Pressure on the European steel industry is increasing, the Federation noted that this new tool has appeared at the right time, as the European steel industry continues to experience significant pressure from an uncontrolled global oversupply of production capacity, state-distorted competition in third countries and growing protectionism in other markets. It also stressed that about a third of the steel currently used in the EU is produced in third countries. V. V. Stahl warned that without effective protective measures, the sector could face serious market disruptions, with potential consequences for investment, employment and the industry's transition to climate-friendly production. Grobler described this measure as a "balanced and intelligent protection mechanism" as a "carefully designed and balanced protection tool". Instead of relying on shared tariffs or quotas, he said, this mechanism allows for market access control through targeted and intelligent security measures. According to Grobler, the new structure combines the advantages of the unification of steel production in the EU with the need to create stable supply chains, as well as taking into account the interests of steel processing industries. The implementation phase begins After the official adoption of the measure, the main focus is on its implementation. The Federation stressed the importance of further improving this tool to ensure its effectiveness and prevent circumvention. One of the key priorities identified by V. V. Stahl is to expand the scope of the mechanism. The Federation