Assofermet asks EC to soften trade, safeguard measures to prevent market distortion

Italian steel distributors' association Assofermet has sent a letter to the European Commission highlighting distortion in the European Union carbon and stainless flat steel market caused by anti-dumping and safeguard measures.

The association has specifically asked not to prolong existing safeguard measures into steel imports beyond their expiration on June 30 this year, it said on Wednesday February 17.
Assofermet said the European market must be open to imports to encourage free competition and avoid excessive market concentration.
It also claimed the European steel sector has been injured by excessive trade restrictions and that the measures should be eased to avoid a shortage across the supply chain and price distorting effects harming end-consumer segments.

"The excessive protectionism created by the combination of anti-dumping and anti-subsidy duties, as well as the EU import safeguard measures has generated a centralization of bargaining power in the hands of a few large European producers to the detriment of downstream actors,"...

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