By Anna Peverieri
(Reuters) – Luxembourg-based steel group Aperam has urged the European Commission to implement the recommendations of its Steel Action Plan without delay, the group’s CEO said on Monday.
Aperam, which makes stainless and speciality steels and alloys, told the Commission that it needed to “apply existing trade defense instruments assertively”, CEO Timoteo Di Maulo said in an emailed statement to Reuters.
“We called for swift and decisive action to prevent and address any circumvention of these measures,” he added.
Aperam asked for the introduction of a long-term measure that offers robust and effective protection for the EU steel industry, to replace the current safeguard mechanism that Di Maulo said was no longer adequate.
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen held a call with metals industry representatives on Monday and was speaking to the automobile sector later to discuss how to respond to U.S. tariffs.
The calls aimed to collect data for further counter-measures beyond Brussels’ upcoming response to Washington’s steel duties, which will be voted on later this week.
(Reporting by Anna Peverieri in Gdansk, editing by Milla Nissi)
