It is a real alarm cry as stated by the president of the European steel association (Eurofer), Henrik Adamfollowing the announcement of flat -rate duties of 25% by the United States. For the number one of the European sector, in fact, the America First politics of the new president Donald Trump He puts “the last nail on the coffin of the continental steel industry”. The problem also affects waterfall on other sectors that, precisely on the steel, depend. They range from the car to security, passing through the defenses, energy infrastructures and transport. These factors push Henrik Adam to say that, given the current scenario, it is in “Game the European sovereignty“And, therefore, there is the need to safeguard measures effective by the European Union.
Usa flat -rate duties on steel
As mentioned, Trump has provided flat -rate duties of 25% for European steelwhich for the president Eurofer “aggravates an already disastrous market context for the European steel industry and represents a real threat to its future”.
“The general situation of the European steel market – reads the note of the European steel association – is now much worse than 2018 (first administration of the Tycoon, ed.).
The impact for the European steel sector
The main aggravation, for Henrik Adam, lies in the fact that the White House “has removed all Product exemptions And the quotas that the EU had previously negotiated. With the exports of European steel to the United States already decreased by one million tonsthe EU now risks losing at least another million export tons. “
The scenario is certainly not idyllic who proposes himself will include, in cascade, “also i derivative steel products“Thus going to reduce” export opportunities for a further million tons of EU products “with everything that would derive from it in terms of injury of the”European sovereignty“. Supercability of the European marketalready in reality saturated with low -cost iron -burning materials that are imported from Asia, North Africa and the Middle East.
A perfect storm, given that “18 million tons of steel have been exported to the United States under a preferential regime and are now at risk of a deviation to the continental market”, with the continental steel sector which already in 2024 “lost 9 million tons of capacity e 18 thousand jobs“.
The request for the most effective rules to the EU
“Our producers – added Henrik Adam – already face the highest prices of energy, despite having the highest climatic ambitions. foreign imports cheaper and high carbon intensity “.New safeguard measures by 1 April, with solid and effective protections “.
Already in the course of the past few weeks, the EU Commission had been activated to respond to respond to the duties war Set from Trump. The first sector considered was precisely the steel one, as a true engine of the European economy, with the president of the EU Commission von der leyen which convened all parties interested in the sector to define the action strategy. The goal is a new action plan on the steel which, according to the plans, will be presented by next March 19.Tre the crucial points, or commercially sustainable production, the response to incorrect and unjustified commercial practices and the creation of new long -term safeguard measures.
