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The European Union steel industry lashed out at the EU’s trade authority for failing to slash import quotas in a planned revamp of them, saying producers in the bloc risk going bust. The European Steel Association and chief executive officers of EU-based manufacturers took aim at the bloc’s proposed changes to the administration of import controls introduced two years ago. They said “The European steel industry’s survival is at further, serious risk because the Commission’s steel safeguard review proposal does not consider the sharp collapse in demand following the COVID pandemic. The tariff-free quota should reflect EU steel demand. The European steel sector is deeply disappointed that the Commission and many EU governments have not yet decided to consider this. Steel demand has fallen by 50% since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic in March. Our industry has had to cut production sharply to adapt to these changed circumstances, with 40% of the EU steel workforce laid-off or having to work part-time. Meanwhile, countries such as China, India, Indonesia and Russia have not rested: they continued, or are restoring, steel production and stockpiling. The imminent risk of cheap steel offers flooding the market would hamper our recovery and the survival of one of Europe’s strategic industries – one that sustains 2.6 million direct and indirect jobs in the EU. The current proposal could massively boost the market share of imports while a huge part of EU production capacity sits idle. The safeguard review process does allow changed circumstances to be addressed, such as those caused by a severely negative impact on the economy and markets as a result of the pandemic.”
They said “We therefore urge the Commission and Member States to improve the proposal and turn it into a crisis-oriented review, effectively safeguarding the European steel industry. We request a tariff-free quota size that reflects actual market conditions. They should make use of the ability to adapt the measures because of ‘changed circumstances’. A lack of interpretation and political will only play into the hands of steel exporters to the EU that are heavily supported by their governments. The import quotas should be reduced considerably, and the transfer of unused quotas to subsequent quarters and the access to the residual quotas for countries with their own quotas prevented.”
Geert Van Poelvoorde CEO ArcelorMittal Europe – Flat Products & President of EUROFER
Mario Caldonazzo CEO Arvedi & Vice-President Federacciai
Klaus Keysberg Chairman of the Executive Board of thyssenkrupp Steel Europe AG
Francesc Rubiralta Rubio Chairman & CEO CELSA Group
Timoteo Di Maulo CEO Aperam SA
Olavi Huhtala CEO SSAB Europe
Tim Hartmann CEO Dillinger/Saarstahl
James E Bruno President US Steel Kosice
Jan Czudek CEO Trinecke Zelezarny
Bernardo Velazquez Herreros President UNESID & CEO Acerinox
Markus Ritter CEO Marienhütte Stahl & Walzwerk
Jerzy Kozicz Chairman of Management Board CMC Poland
Dmitrij Scuka CEO & Chairman of the Board Vitkovice Steel
Vladimir Klocok Chairman of the BoD OFZ, j.s.c. Istebne
Stéphane Delpeyroux President A3M, Alliance des Minerais, Minéraux et Métaux
Philippe Coigné Directeur Général, Groupement de la Sidérurgie
Vassilios Goumas CEO Hellenic Halyvourgia SA
Michele Della Briotta President Europe, Tenaris
Henrik Adam CEO Tata Steel Europe Ltd
Heinz Jörg Fuhrmann CEO Salzgitter AG
Lorenzo Riva CEO Riva Stahl GmbH – RIVA Group
Hubert Zajicek CEO voestalpine Steel Division
Heikki Malinen President & CEO Outokumpu Oy
José Enrique Freire Arteta President MEGASA Group
Roland Junck President and interim CEO LIBERTY Steel Group Europe
Hans Jürgen Kerkhoff President Wirtschaftsvereinigung Stahl
Nicos I. Georgakellos President Hellenic Steelmakers Union
Ionel Bors President UniRomSider
Anton Petrov Chairman of the Board Bulgarian Association of the Metallurgical Industry
Stefan Dzienniak President of the Board Polish Steel Association
Kimmo Järvinen Managing Director Metallinjalostajat
Daniel Urban Executive Director Ocelarska Unie Steel Union
Bo-Erik Pers Managing Director Jernkontoret
Roman Stiftner Managing Director Fachverband Bergwerke & Stahl
Milan Vesely President Metallurgy, Mining and Geology Association of Slovakia
Frank Koch CEO Georgsmarienhütte Holding GmbH
Axel Eggert Director General EUROFER