The European Commission confirmed on Tuesday 24 September, during a debate between MEPs of the Committee on International Trade (INTA), the European Commission and representatives of the metal industry, that the safeguard measures on steel imports into the European Union, taken by the Commission to deal with the consequences of European tariff increases (see EUROPE 12185/4), would be adjusted starting in October.
According to Karl Tachelet, Director of International Affairs at the European Steel Association (Eurofer), these measures "have saved the European industry from extinction". However, he described to MEPs a depressed steel market, whose production forecasts for the next 12 months indicate a decrease of 5 million tonnes.
Mr Tachelet called on the EU to continue its efforts to resolve the global overcapacity crisis, particularly at the WTO, in order to develop stricter disciplines on subsidies.
The adjustments proposed by the European Commission following the review of the steel safeguard measures, which were validated by the World Trade Organisation (WTO) and then, in early September, by Member States, will be applied from October 2019.
By updating the list of exclusions for developing countries, the revised safeguard measures will now prevent some exporting countries such as Turkey or Indonesia from falling through the safeguard cracks (see EUROPE 12229/25). They will also make it possible, inter alia, to adjust the functioning of the quota for certain products and to slow down the liberalisation of imports (see EUROPE 12310/10).
During the same debate, the Commission announced that it was also considering export restrictions on Indonesian nickel-ore, in particular in compliance with their WTO rules.
The European Commission also added that, on 26 October, the ministerial meeting would be held to discuss the future of the Global Forum on Steel Excess Capacity. (Original version in French by Hermine Donceel)