Frankfurt, 18 March 2026 – Regarding the vote in European Parliament’s Trade Committee on the EU-U.S. trade deal, VDMA President Bertram Kawlath says:

• “It is very important for the European machinery industry that trade relations between the EU and the U.S. finally enter calmer waters. The European Parliament should therefore now approve the agreement concluded between the EU and the U.S. last summer. In return, however, the U.S. must finally ease the steel and aluminum tariffs.”

The proposed EU steel trade measure, intended to strengthen Europe’s steel sector, could have significant consequences for downstream industries. Fast revision of the scope after adoption is urgently needed.

Many European manufacturing industries depend on stable and competitive access to steel inputs. Restrictions on imports risk tightening supply and increasing costs across the EU, with implications for industrial competitiveness and consumer prices.

Frankfurt, 04 March 2026 – VDMA Executive Director Thilo Brodtmann comments on the EU Commission´s proposal of the Industrial Accelerator Act (IAA) presented today:

• “The long-awaited IAA is not a big breakthrough that will significantly strengthen Europe's competitiveness. The focus on ‘local content’ distracts from Europe’s real challenges – such as high administrative costs, a weakened internal market, and Europe's lack of technological leadership.”

European Aluminium welcomes the trilogue agreement reached on the Commission’s proposal to revise the End-of-Life Vehicles Directive (ELVD) and the 3R Type-Approval Directive. In light of the increasing use of aluminium in European vehicles, mainly driven by electric vehicles and lightweighting, the agreement to introduce quality requirements for aluminium recovered from end-of-life vehicles represents an important step forward. It helps align vehicle design with circular economy objectives while strengthening Europe’s access to critical raw materials.