European steel distributors, processors, and manufacturers have urged the European Union to extend steel safeguard measures to downstream steel-based products, warning of growing deindustrialization risks across the region.
Speaking at a press conference during the Wire & Tube fair in Düsseldorf, industry group EUROMETAL said a joint initiative backed by more than 300 companies and 35 associations would be submitted to EU institutions.
The signatories represent over one million direct jobs across the steel value chain.
Industry Warns of Competitive Pressure
According to EUROMETAL representatives, European manufacturers are facing rising competition from lower-cost imports, particularly from Asia, while domestic producers struggle with:
- Higher energy costs
- Rising labor costs
- Stricter regulatory burdens
The group said imports of steel products into Europe are rising by around 20% annually, while regional steel consumption continues to decline.
Call for Full Value Chain Protection
Industry leaders argued that current EU safeguards focus mainly on primary steel products, leaving downstream goods largely unprotected.
They warned this creates a “double pressure” effect:
- Higher input costs inside Europe
- Unrestricted imports of finished steel-intensive goods
EUROMETAL is calling for:
- Tariffs and quotas on downstream steel products
- Expansion of the Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM) to include processed steel goods
- An EU-wide industrial electricity price cap of €0.05/kWh
Jobs and Strategic Risks Highlighted
The industry said Europe’s wider steel value chain supports around 13.5 million jobs, warning that continued inaction could damage key sectors including defense, infrastructure, and energy.
EUROMETAL said its campaign will continue until concrete policy measures are adopted.
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