EU steel sector pushes to be part of ‘Made in Europe’ act, seeks narrow scope
BRUSSELS — Europe’s steel industry said on Thursday that the European Union (EU) provisions due to be set out next week that prioritize the use of locally made materials must include steel, and “local” should be understood as only close EU neighbors such as Britain and Norway.
The EU executive is to propose its “Industrial Accelerator Act” next Wednesday, with requirements to prioritize locally manufactured products when public money is used.
The “Made in Europe” provision is designed to cover “key strategic sectors,” including batteries, solar and wind energy, hydrogen manufacturing, nuclear power and electric vehicles. It is not clear if low-carbon steel would be included.
The plans were due to have been presented this week but were delayed by disagreements over the geographic scope.
Norway, Iceland and Liechtenstein, members of the EU’s single market, are likely to be included.
“I would agree for those that have a very similar system to the EU to add them. I have no problem with the UK, but you cannot add all the FTA (Free Trade Agreement) countries,” Axel Eggert, director general of steel association Eurofer said.
The Middle East/North Africa region, India, Indonesia and Vietnam should be excluded, he said.
“These are exactly those who create the overcapacity, who do not decarbonize in a way as we have to in the EU,” he continued.
Carmakers and other industries have called for provisions to extend to include countries in their supply chains, such as Britain and Turkey.
Mr. Eggert said the latest draft appeared to have removed ‘Made in Europe’ requirements for steel. He said many other trade partners were buying locally, “India massively, China, the US all ‘buy national,’ but they do it for all the production, and we are here just talking about low-carbon steel. So if you want to trigger investment in the decarbonization, then you have to put steel here as well,” he said, referring to the Act. — Reuters
