IndustriAll European Trade Union calls for the EU to take urgent action to protect tens of thousands of European jobs at risk of President Trump’s announcement of a 25% tariff on steel and 10% tariff on aluminium from Europe.

"The real issue facing American metal workers is global overcapacity, with third countries overproducing steel and aluminium and driving down their prices through both non-market conditions and the absence of real labour rights"

Luis Colunga, Deputy General Secretary of industriAll Europe, said:

“Donald Trump’s announcement last night will have a disastrous impact on European jobs and steel communities across Europe. IndustriAll Europe supports the EU in immediately triggering market surveillance and implementing crucial safeguard measures.

‘’European trade unions fought hard for EU trade defence measures, which are vital to combat unfair dumping from third countries. Trump’s excuse about the national security of the USA, is just that: an excuse. High-quality European steel and aluminium poses no threat to the USA’s national security.

‘’The real issue facing American metal workers is global overcapacity, with third countries overproducing steel and aluminium and driving down their prices through both non-market conditions and the absence of real labour rights. There is no overcapacity in European or American production and our workers should not bear the brunt of third countries’ unfair trade practices.

‘’A global trade war has no winners, only losers. Thousands of workers in Europe and the USA will lose out. We want the EU to take fair and just action, in line with WTO rules, to protect our workers and our industries.

‘’The European steel and aluminium industries produce high-quality products while abiding by WTO trade rules. We therefore demand that the EU is exempted from these unfair tariffs.’’

 Luc Triangle, General Secretary of industriAll Europe, added:

‘No workers should suffer due to unfair international trade practices or global overcapacity in the steel or aluminium markets. As trade unionists, industriAll Europe, IndustriALL Global and the United Steel Workers should work together to demand a fair global playing field. This includes respecting international trade rules and demanding high social standards and workers’ rights for all workers.

‘’We need real commitment and transparency from all countries to find a permanent solution to stop global overcapacity and we call on the EU to continue to add political pressure on international platforms. Nationalist and protectionist measures are not the answer. We must work together to stop the real issue at hand - global overcapacity. This means no more unfair state aid!’’

Download the Press Release in EN