Brussels, 17/03/2016 (Agence Europe) - In draft conclusions dated Wednesday 16 March, the European Council says it intends to press ahead with strong action in response to the challenge that global overproduction of steel represents for European steel-making, without, however, stating exactly what this action will entail.
This announcement follows on from the European Commission communication published on 16 March in support of European steel-making in the face of international competition and, especially, unfair practices from China (see EUROPE 11512). In the communication, the Commission pledges to speed up anti-dumping procedures, by around a month in the first instance and thereafter by two months, on the assumption that the legislative package modernising trade defence instruments (TDIs) is adopted. This raft of measures has been at a standstill in Council since the end of 2014 (see EUROPE 11175). The Commission also announced that an early warning system on imported products would be introduced.
Though given at best a lukewarm reception by many MEPs and by the steel-making sector (see EUROPE 11513), the communication appears to have been well received by the member states. On Wednesday 16 March, French Economy Minister Emmanuel Macron and Secretary of State for Foreign Trade Matthias Fekl hailed the commitments made by the Commission on addressing the European steel-making crisis. The two ministers also welcomed the recent anti-dumping measures taken by the Commission against China (see EUROPE 11489), drawing a causal link with the letter to the Commission jointly signed by seven member states (Belgium, France, Germany, Italy, Luxembourg, Poland and United Kingdom) in February. The ministers called on the Commission to act as quickly as possible against unfair Chinese practices which is causing lasting damage to the European steel-making industry before adding that still more has to be done. In their view, modernisation of TDIs is a priority.
German State Secretary at the Ministry of the Economy Matthias Machnig hailed the communication, on 16 March, as “an important step towards ensuring fair trading conditions for the European steel-making industry”, attributing, in part, the recent action from the Commission to the joint letter (see EUROPE 11485). Similarly, Luxembourg Economy Minister Étienne Schneider warmly welcomed the Commission's action plan. In his view, the plan stems directly from the efforts of the Luxembourg Presidency, in particular the extraordinary Council that it convened on 9 November 2015. “Through the new action plan, the Commission is demonstrating its will to maintain a competitive, diversifies industrial base in Europe”, he stated. (Original version in French by Pascal Hansens)