DUSSELDORF (Reuters) – Thyssenkrupp Steel Europe (TKSE) and Salzgitter on Monday called for the EU Commission’s action plan to be implemented as swiftly as possible to shield the sector from U.S. President Donald Trump’s tariff measures.
“Europe must not be left defenceless in the face of growing import pressure,” said Gunnar Groebler, CEO of Salzgitter, Germany’s second-largest steelmaker, in a statement.
Groebler said the EU needed to act decisively while also keeping dialogue with the U.S. open.
TKSE, Germany’s largest steelmaker, said the plan was an “important impetus” to strengthen the ailing sector’s competitiveness as well as decarbonise it.
The “current geopolitical situation” made its implementation all the more urgent, said Dennis Grimm, TKSE executive board spokesperson, in a statement to Reuters.
In addition, the introduction of binding minimum quotas for “European content” in private and public procurement should be emphasized in order to strengthen domestic markets, he said.
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen held a call with metals industry representatives on Monday and was speaking to the automobile sector later.
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.
The 27-nation EU bloc faces 25% import tariffs on steel and aluminium and cars.
(Reporting by Tom Kaeckenhoff, Writing by Miranda Murray, Editing by Rachel More)
