Overview
- EU officials propose cutting duty‑free import volumes to 18.3 million tonnes with a 50% tariff above that level, while Berlin has not yet committed and six steel‑state leaders demand at least 50% duties and a ban on Russian steel.
- The government signals an industrial electricity price starting January 1, 2026, with details still pending as unions press for simple rules and rapid implementation.
- The IW economics institute warns a power subsidy would offer limited relief of up to €1.5 billion a year and urges climate contracts plus faster build‑out of grids and hydrogen infrastructure.
- Unions and producers call for tighter trade defense and procurement preferences for EU steel, with Thyssenkrupp’s Marie Jaroni backing import tariffs on China and EU‑steel requirements in publicly funded projects.
- Germany’s primary steel output fell about 12% in H1 2025 under pressure from Chinese overcapacity and US tariffs, and green‑steel projects like Salzgitter’s DRI progress while facing high energy costs, scarce green hydrogen and calls to complete the hydrogen core network with interim non‑green supplies allowed.