Brussels (Brussels Morning Newspaper) – The European Commission said it will propose plans to make Europe’s weak steel sector more competitive and to protect it from looming U.S. trade tariffs in the spring.
Its action agenda will follow a ‘strategic dialogue’ with major representatives of the sector chaired by commission president Ursula von der Leyen on March 4. Europe’s steel industry urged the EU Commission in November to take urgent action to prevent what it termed the sector’s irreversible downfall.
It insisted the EU come up with programs addressing trade, and the EU’s carbon tax on imports, energy, and scrap as a component of broader proposals to assist firms reach the EU’s 2050 carbon neutrality goal.
“The steel industry is a key sector of our European single market. At the same time this industry is of utmost importance in our fight against climate change,”
Von der Leyen said.
“We want to ensure that the European steel industry is both competitive and sustainable in the long-term.”
What issues will the March 4 strategic dialogue cover?
On March 4, raw material suppliers, steel manufacturers, and other parties linked to the sector will examine how to improve competitiveness, drive decarbonisation and electrification and ensure fair trade ties, the Commission stated.
EU Commission Vice President Stephane Sejourne will then undertake a
“dedicated steel and metals action plan”
In the spring, it stated.
As reported by the EU Commission, the Dialogue will be built upon the foundation created by the recently published EU Competitiveness Compass and the upcoming EU Clean Industrial Deal.
Major discussion points will include how to improve competitiveness and circularity, decarbonisation, drive the clean transition, and electrification, and secure fair trade ties and an international level playing field.
