German Warns: US Tariffs Threaten European Steel Industry

The CEO of Salzgitter, Germany’s second-largest steel producer, warned of the profound negative impact of US tariffs on the European manufacturing sector, following the Trump administration’s announcement to double tariffs on steel imports to 50%.

Gunnar Grobler, the company’s CEO, said, “The erratic US tariff policy is hitting the European economy hard, especially Germany.”

Grubler pointed out that the impact is not limited to European exports to the United States, but also increases pressure on the European market itself, due to the rise in imports of cheaper Asian steel, which poses an additional threat to domestic industries.

According to data from the German Steel Association, the United States accounts for about a fifth of European steel exports outside the EU, or approximately four million tons annually, making it the most important market for this sector.

Grubler urged the European Commission to act quickly, saying, “Raising US tariffs on steel to 50% should prompt the European Commission to accelerate the implementation of the measures stipulated in the European Steel and Metals Action Plan.”