22.12.2023, Berlin.
Steel producers from the European Union expressed dissatisfaction with the grace period for steel imports from Russia, the German newspaper Der Spiegel wrote on December 22.
The 12th package of anti-Russian sanctions of the EU was expected to fix the end of the grace period for the supply of Russian slabs (steel ingots) in the fall of 2024. However, European companies producing steel products, such as thick plates for wind turbines or heavy engineering, convinced their governments to leave them a source of cheap Russian raw materials.
The grace period will be extended until 2028. However, the volume of allowed goods will be reduced.
This has displeased European steel producers. The Director General of the European Steel Association EUROFER Axel Eggert said the EU was taking its system of sanctions to the point of absurdity.
According to him, Russian suppliers will be able to receive up to €2 billion a year for 3 million tons of steel a year. And this is enough to support an average Russian steel plant. Then it turns out that the EU is supporting military production in Russia, Eggert said.
Belgium, Italy and the Czech Republic insisted on extending the benefits. Germany was against it.
Source: Rossa Primavera News Agency
