(de-news.net) – Following the Steel Summit held at the Federal Chancellery, Chancellor Friedrich Merz (CDU) reaffirmed the Federal Government’s determination to enhance the competitive framework for Germany’s steel sector, which is currently facing significant economic adversity. The summit, conducted as part of the broader Steel Dialogue initiative, convened key stakeholders from industry, federal ministries, and state governments to deliberate on the escalating challenges confronting the sector. The Chancellor underscored the gravity of the situation, describing it as existential for numerous enterprises and stressing the imperative for prompt and coordinated policy measures.
The discussions culminated in the identification of three strategic priorities necessitating targeted intervention. For one, participants emphasized the pressing need to reinforce trade defense instruments in response to global overcapacity and the risk of trade diversion into the European Union market. With the current safeguard measures scheduled to expire on 30 June 2026, the Federal Government urged the European Union to fully utilize its trade policy capabilities and to establish a successor framework that is robust, balanced, and compliant with World Trade Organization regulations. These measures are deemed essential to maintaining equitable competition and shielding domestic producers from destabilizing external pressures.
Secondly, the summit highlighted the critical importance of reducing energy costs, particularly electricity prices, which represent a substantial barrier to the viability of steel production in Germany. Chancellor Merz referenced ongoing negotiations in Brussels concerning an industrial electricity pricing mechanism, which is considered vital to facilitating the sector’s transition to climate-neutral steel manufacturing. Stakeholders concurred that without substantial reductions in energy costs, the long-term sustainability of the industry would be severely compromised.
A third focal point involved enhancing the competitiveness of European steel through revised procurement practices. Industry representatives advocated for the preferential use of European—especially German—steel in both public and private procurement processes. The Chancellor expressed support for this approach, acknowledging a departure from previous principles of open markets and unrestricted competition. He noted that evolving global trade dynamics, including the rise of protectionist measures in other regions, necessitate a more assertive strategy to safeguard national industrial interests.
