Representatives from steel distributors and processors have met with the German Chamber of Commerce and Industry to draw attention to the competitive distortions caused by imported steel-based finished products.
The debate was headed by EUROMETAL president Alexander Julius, managing director of German trading company macroMetal, who earlier this month strongly advocated for the consideration of downstream products in the EU’s import measures at the Kallanish Europe Steel Markets conference in Vienna.
Other participants at this week’s meeting included Michael Waasner of Gebr. Waasner, Domenico Marino of Knauf Interfer, Jan Hobertof Hettich Management Service, and well as representatives of the German economy ministry.
Among the issues discussed were clearer rules on origin and traceability, the examination of “melt and pour” approaches, and stronger consideration of downstream steel products in existing and future trade-policy instruments.
In a call on the Germany government and the European Commission, the participants demanded an improvement to the rules of origin, traceability and proof in order to prevent circumvention strategies.
They also urged the EU to design existing trade defence instruments to be faster, more practical and more closely aligned with real value chains.
As many downstream products can be relevant for infrastructure, defence and security projects, preserving this industrial base is also of strategic relevance, the participants point out in their joint statement.
That point was also emphasised in Vienna by panellist Jiri Mravec of Trinecke Zelezarny. “We are not living in a peaceful world. Nobody wants to depend 100% on imports.”
Author: Christian Koehl
