During an industry meeting held in Hannover, Germany, on September 10, Hans Jürgen Kerkhoff, president of the German steel federation Wirtschaftsvereinigung Stahl (WV Stahl), called on the European Commission to introduce definitive safeguard measures in the steel sector in order to protect Europe against the already noticeable trade diversions and stated that, as long as the US market remains largely sealed off, such measures are indispensable.
Mr. Kerkhoff also said that not only global protectionism and distortions in world trade, but also sharply rising electricity prices and additional costs due to emissions trading limited to Europe require a combined effort to boost competitiveness, innovation and employment in the European steel industry.