EU trade policy should become a tool to support the Ukrainian economy – when Ukrainians protect us - MEP
The EU's trade policy should become a tool to support the Ukrainian economy at a time when Ukrainians are defending Europe at the front. This statement was made by Karin Carlsbro, Deputy chairman of the European Parliament's International Trade Committee, during a debate on the introduction by the European Commission of a new, even stricter steel trade regime with other countries.
"The collapse of the Ukrainian metallurgy industry will be a huge disaster not only for Ukraine, but for the whole of Europe, and the social consequences in the form of unemployment and underpaid taxes to local budgets are a threat. The EU's trade policy should become a tool to support the Ukrainian economy at a time when Ukrainians are defending Europe at the front," she said.
According to her, Ukraine is now exempt from the application of the current safeguard steel trade regime in the EU, this exception should be valid until the summer of 2028. However, the new trade measure provides for the application of a separate tariff quota for Ukraine, and its allocation will take into account the "special security problems" in Ukraine.
"The metallurgical industry is fundamentally important for Ukraine's ability to win the war against Russia. We must consider Ukraine as a future member and strategic partner of the EU, and not as a threat," Karin Carlsbro said.
During her speech, the Swedish MEP recalled that the Ukrainian metallurgy industry was and still remains a strategic target of attacks by Russian troops. "Last week I visited metal factories in Krivoy Rog, Dnipro, Kamensk and witnessed the brutal reality. After the full-scale invasion, a number of production facilities were either located in the occupied territories or were completely destroyed. Other businesses face huge costs. The fact that the Ukrainian metallurgy industry, despite all the difficulties, was able to function in these circumstances, should be encouraged, not punished," stated the Deputy Chairman of the Committee on International Trade of the European Parliament.
According to a report by the Ukrainian industrial company Interpipe, Karin Carlsbro visited Interpipe Steel last week, the most modern electric steelmaking complex in Ukraine. The company's CEO Luca Zanotti and GR Director Natalia Sidoruk presented the full cycle of "green" steel production to the guests.
Interpipe recalled that starting from July 1 of this year, Ukrainian metallurgists may receive such restrictions on the supply of their products to Europe, the negative effect of which will be comparable to the loss of steel capacity in 2022. "The inability to sell metal products will lead to a reduction in production at metal plants, which will create