The need for reform of the WTO is acknowledged globally.
The general views and positions of the three major economies (EU, U.S.A and China) are known: the U.S.A. fundamentally criticises the functioning and performance of the WTO as being unable to address distortions from state-led economies and policies and now taking strong unilateral action, the EU confirming its fundamental loyalty to the spirit and rules of the WTO while stressing the need to modernize the system by revitalizing the WTO capacity to negotiate new rules, improving transparency and re-establishing the functioning of the dispute settlement system, and China confirming its support for the WTO insisting on a status-quo while blaming the crisis on rising unilateral and protectionist practices by other WTO members.
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Brussels, 22 March 2024 – The future of a strong and resilient EU can only be forged with steel made in Europe. Europe-made low-carbon steel has a strategic role as it enables a net-zero economy, but today it faces strong headwinds from high energy prices, unfair competition, global overcapacity and growing unilateral carbon costs. The year 2023 has recorded the lowest European crude steel production levels ever, with a number of idled plants and dire impact on workers. Ensuring the enabling conditions for the short-term viability and the decarbonisation of the steel sector urgently needs to be at the top of the EU agenda. This is the message delivered by the European Steel Association together with a number of high-level representatives of the sector on the occasion of the Clean Transition Dialogue on Steel in the presence of the Executive Vice Presidents of the European Commission, Maroš Šefčovič and Margrethe Vestager.
Uses, limits, and realistic potentials of demand-side response from the European steel industry along with a broad set of framework recommendations for an EU policy
Antwerp, 20 February 2024 – Today 73 industry leaders spanning almost 20 industrial sectors presented ‘The Antwerp Declaration for a European Industrial Deal’ to Belgian Prime Minister, Alexander De Croo and Commission President, Ursula von der Leyen. The declaration underlines the commitment of industry to Europe and its transformation and outlines urgent industry needs to make Europe competitive, resilient, and sustainable in the face of dire economic conditions.