Overview
- IG Metall says solutions are on the table and expects clear agreements at Thursday’s steel summit to bolster the sector’s competitiveness.
- Union leader Jürgen Kerner urges a firm German yes to EU trade‑protection plans that still await European Council approval, warning current tools remain leaky and could allow about 18 million tonnes of non‑EU steel into Europe.
- IG Metall demands a straightforward industrial electricity price for energy‑intensive producers, with Economics Minister Katherine Reiche having indicated a start in January 2026, and calls for simple, clear rules to avoid red tape.
- The union also pushes for value‑creation requirements so taxpayer‑funded projects use German or European steel and ensure at least part of production occurs domestically.
- Economic researchers ahead of the meeting convened by Friedrich Merz at the Chancellery urge a sharper focus on reducing power costs, argue the planned electricity price would relieve steelmakers by up to €1.5 billion a year, and recommend targeted support for green steel and faster hydrogen and grid build‑out.