Steel industry protesters demand EU protection in Brussels

European steel producers, processors, and distributors held a protest in Brussels before the European Commission to demand better protection against foreign competition. The demonstration, organized by EUROMETAL, featured a silent march with ten symbolic coffins representing the loss of production capacity, jobs, and technical expertise due to ongoing deindustrialization.

Industry representatives, including participants from Poland, argue that current EU protective measures only cover raw steel, leaving a significant loophole. They claim that Asian countries, particularly China, are flooding the European market with finished steel-based products such as car parts, machine components, springs, furniture, and household appliances. These goods often enter the market without facing the same energy, emission, and reporting costs imposed on European manufacturers.

The protesters are calling for the expansion of trade protection tools, including tariffs and quotas, to cover these downstream steel products. They also demand that the Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM) be extended to a wider range of processed goods to ensure a level playing field for domestic industry.