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EUROFER views on the International Procurement Instrument
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While the EU is considered one of the most open and transparent procurement markets in the world, this is often not reciprocated by the EU’s trading partners. This is creating a growing lack of level-playing field in world procurement markets, as third countries are increasingly restricting access to their markets while their companies are winning significant contracts in the EU, sometimes even on unfair pricing terms or by challenging EU public procurement rules.
In 2012, the Commission proposed the creation of an International Procurement Instrument (IPI). After a legislative deadlock, the Commission presented a revised proposal in 2016. In March 2019, in the context of a review of relations with China, the Commission called on the Council and Parliament to revive the trilogues based on the revised proposal, and adopt the IPI before the end of 2019.
In the light of the revival of the discussions on the 2016 proposal, EUROFER would like to highlight its support to the International Procurement Instrument and urge the European institutions to reach an agreement in the shortest possible timeframe to ensure new market openings for European companies and a level playing field in both the EU and third countries’ markets.
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Brussels, 16 May 2024 – The initiation of a new anti-dumping investigation on imports of tinplated steel products from China announced today by the European Commission is an important step towards restoring a level playing field for the EU producers, says the European Steel Association welcoming the opening of the procedure.
Brussels, 07 May 2024 – The European Commission has today published two Regulations extending the anti-dumping and countervailing measures in force on imports of stainless steel cold-rolled flat products (SSCR) originating in Indonesia to imports of SSCR from Taiwan, Turkey and Vietnam. EUROFER welcomes the extension of the duties and the introduction of import requirements connected to strict monitoring of imports.
The outlook for the European steel market in 2024 continues to lose momentum amidst persisting challenging conditions. Downside factors such as worsening geopolitical tensions, coupled with growing economic uncertainty, energy prices, inflation, interest rates have further impacted demand prospects. According to EUROFER’s latest Economic and Steel Market Outlook, these challenges have exacerbated the negative effects on apparent steel consumption, resulting in a more severe downturn in 2023 than previously projected (-9%, instead of -6.3%) and weaker growth in 2024 (+3.2%, instead of +5.6%). Output in steel-using sectors, despite showing more resilience than expected in the past year (+1.1%), is now set to decline (-1%). Imports are once again on the rise (+11% in the last quarter of 2023), capturing a staggering 27% market share throughout 2023.