ASSOFERMET reacted to the European Commission's decision 2024/7515 of 17 December 2024, stressing that this new review is not significantly different from a similar assessment six months ago. The association argued that such regulatory measures restricting imports are far from solving the structural problems in the European steel sector. The main problem in the European steel market is low demand in steel-using sectors, it stated, arguing that this lack of demand cannot be addressed by further import restrictions. Instead, the focus should be on boosting demand and encouraging steel consumption through comprehensive economic policies.
ASSOFERMET indicated that the extension of protection measures would create new uncertainties in the sector and demanded that the current protection measures be lifted before December 31, 2025 and that these measures should not overlap with the Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM), while proposing a more flexible and equal tariff quota system if protection measures continue:
- Maintaining the level of import liberalization,
- Eliminate country-specific quotas and introduce global quotas based on product categories,
- Establish a more flexible management mechanism to redistribute unused quotas every quarter.
ASSOFERMET called on the European Commission to develop structural solutions to increase demand and support the competitiveness of European industry by refusing to adopt protectionist policies, expecting a review of global tariffs on steel and aluminum imports.
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