Parliament’s CBAM negotiators want to impose default emissions values for imports from ‘at risk’ countries

This would compel companies operating in countries deemed at risk to prove the accuracy of the declared emissions of their EU-bound goods, French Renew MEP Pascal Canfin told journalists on 1 July.
Firms would also be required to demonstrate they’re not circumventing CBAM, the EU’s flagship tax on carbon-intensive imports, said Canfin, who is part of Parliament’s negotiating teams on two CBAM proposals.
The list of countries deemed at risk would be based on criteria defined in the final text; rules proposed by MEPs would include China, Canfin added.
These proposals would reverse the logic of the European Commission’s draft CBAM extension law, which favoured using actual emission values, reserving the use of more punitive default values only for cases where data is unavailable.
Parliament negotiators have also agreed on the list of aluminium- and steel-intensive byproducts to be covered by the CBAM extension proposal, adding 249 goods to the Commission’s original list of 180.
Canfin expects that these proposals, included in draft parliamentary reports, will receive broad support from MEPs — from The Left through to the centre-right EPP’s most right-leaning members — in a 6 July vote in the environment committee, ENVI.

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WV Stahl: EU’s new steel trade defence instrument is a significant step, but further improvements are needed

The German Steel Federation (WV Stahl) described the European Union’s new Steel Trade Defence Instrument, which entered into force on July 1, 2026, as an effective successor to the expiring steel safeguard measures, while stating that additional improvements are needed for the mechanism to achieve its full effectiveness.
WV Stahl stated that the new trade defence instrument is essential to protect the German and European steel industries against import pressure driven by persistent global overcapacity.
WV Stahl Managing Director Kerstin Maria Rippel described the mechanism as an effective response to the high level of imports into the EU steel market, saying, “The Steel Trade Defence Instrument provides an effective response to the intense import pressure facing the European steel industry. It restores confidence to the sector and sends an important signal for European industry.”
The federation warned that without effective trade protection, market distortions would continue to deepen, negatively affecting investment, employment, and the steel industry’s transition toward climate-neutral production.
The new mechanism is based on country- and product-specific tariff-free import quotas. Once a quota is exhausted, imports will be subject to a 50% tariff. Unlike the previous EU safeguard measures, quota volumes will be adjusted according to market conditions rather than remaining fixed. WV Stahl believes the mechanism will help improve capacity utilization across the European steel industry.
Rippel also thanked policymakers in Berlin and Brussels, noting that introducing the new instrument before the previous safeguards expired provides timely protection for steel producers while balancing the interests of downstream industries. The federation added that the outcome was made possible in part by the strong support of the German Federal Government.
At the same time, WV Stahl called on the European Commission to address the remaining regulatory gaps. The federation urged the Commission to extend the scope of the mechanism to cover all steel products as well as steel-intensive downstream products. It also argued that unused tariff-rate quotas should not be carried over into future periods, warning that such a system could weaken the effectiveness of the safeguard measures.
Another key priority for WV Stahl is the implementation of the “melted and poured” rule, under which the origin of steel products would be determined by the country where the steel was actually melted and poured.
“The protective shield is now in place. The European Commission must now ensure that it cannot be circumvented. Allocating tariff-rate quotas based on the country where the steel is produced is of critical importance,” Rippel said.
WV Stahl added that further strengthening the trade defence instrument will be crucial for the EU’s industrial policy. The federation stressed that the “melted and poured” principle is not only important for trade protection but also for discussions surrounding the Industrial Acceleration Act (IAA) and the further development of the Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM).
Finally, the federation emphasized that the EU’s industrial policy instruments should support genuine industrial investment, value creation, and employment within Europe.

Author: SteelRadar Editorial Team

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Assofermet supports Codacons’ “Steel Is a Strategic Resource for Italy” manifesto

The Italian Association of Scrap, Raw Materials and Steel Distributors (Assofermet) announced that it has joined the manifesto titled “Steel Is a Strategic Resource for Italy,” prepared by Codacons.

The association said it supports the principles and objectives of the manifesto, which aims to place the steel industry back at the center of Italy’s industrial policy.

Assofermet stated that the manifesto makes a significant and tangible contribution to the debate on the future of Italy’s steel industry, noting that the country is at a critical stage in making decisions to secure raw material supply, preserve the competitiveness of industrial supply chains, and support employment.

The manifesto emphasizes that steel is of strategic importance to the Italian economy and key sectors such as automotive, machinery, shipbuilding, and heavy industry. It also states that dependence on imports should be reduced to strengthen supply chain resilience, while stressing that high-quality and strategic imports that cannot be substituted by European Union production should not be negatively affected.

The document further notes that Italy continues to face a significant steel supply deficit, leaving the country’s manufacturing system vulnerable to international market fluctuations, price volatility, and risks arising from geopolitical crises. It therefore states that establishing a long-term national steel strategy to support production investments and strengthen the country’s industrial capacity should be a priority.

Gianluca Di Ascenzo, President of Codacons, said the manifesto aims to draw the attention of public institutions to the strategic importance of steel for the country, adding that Italy cannot ignore demand for such a fundamental raw material, which is indispensable to its industrial supply chains. Di Ascenzo said Italy needs an industrial policy that balances development, sustainability, and the public interest, while strengthening domestic production, improving security of supply, and protecting businesses and consumers from the effects of international crises and market volatility. Welcoming Assofermet’s decision to join the manifesto, Di Ascenzo said it demonstrates that these objectives are shared across the entire supply chain.

Assofermet also reaffirmed its support for the manifesto’s approach, emphasizing that major projects to revive the Piombino steel production hub and Acciaierie d’Italia facilities are central to the future of Italy’s steel industry. The association said these investments represent critical assets for both the country’s industrial future and the strengthening of Italy’s and Europe’s strategic autonomy.

Paolo Sangoi, President of ASSOFERMET Acciai, said Assofermet’s decision to join the manifesto stems from its objective of placing the steel industry back at the center of Italy’s industrial agenda. Sangoi said the revival of the Piombino production hub and Acciaierie d’Italia facilities is a strategic priority for the future of the country’s manufacturing industry, adding that these projects are essential to reducing the national production gap, enhancing corporate competitiveness, and ensuring that steel-consuming industries have access to high-quality steel at competitive prices.

Sangoi also stressed that the development of Italy’s steel industry should be supported through investment in innovation and environmental sustainability, describing both as indispensable for the future of the Italian and European steel sectors.

Author: SteelRadar Editorial Team

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