Overview
- Economics Minister Katherina Reiche said she expects the subsidised industrial power price to start on 1 January 2026, with EU state‑aid approval in its final stage and a three‑year limit under a 50 €/MWh price floor.
- Lars Klingbeil called for a complete end to Russian steel imports, including slabs processed in the EU, and SPD leadership backed examining targeted tariffs and stricter procurement to bolster domestic producers.
- The European Commission’s October plan under negotiation would cut duty‑free steel import quotas to 18.3 million tonnes and apply a 50% tariff above that level.
- Ahead of the 6 November “Stahlgipfel,” NRW premier Hendrik Wüst pressed for a rapid, low‑bureaucracy rollout of the power relief and longer free CO2 allowances, while IG Metall urged preference for European steel in public projects.
- A union‑funded study warned of large economic risks from offshoring core production, as industry leaders cite falling demand, high energy costs and Chinese competition threatening roughly 90,000 direct steel jobs in Germany.