European steel industry warns of competitiveness gap in Brussels protest

Representatives from the European steel, metals distribution, processing, and manufacturing sectors held a demonstration in Brussels on September 7 to demand protections for the entire steel value chain. Organized by EUROMETAL under the name ‘European Convoy for Industrial Competitiveness’, the protest featured a convoy of 15 trucks and ten symbolic industrial coffins placed near the European Commission.

The industry warns of a widening competitive gap caused by EU trade and climate policies. While direct steel imports are increasingly subject to carbon costs and regulatory requirements, such as the Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM), finished steel-intensive products from third countries can often enter the EU market without equivalent obligations.

EUROMETAL expressed concern that these policies may cause ‘downstream carbon leakage,’ where instead of importing raw steel for local processing, European buyers shift to importing finished components and machinery from abroad. This trend threatens European manufacturing investment, employment, and strategic industrial independence.