EUROFER welcomes Commission’s decision to impose provisional anti-dumping measures against imports of GOES

euroferlogoThe Commission’s investigation has confirmed that imports of grain-oriented electrical steel (GOES) from Russia, USA, Japan, Korea and PR China are sold at dumped prices and cause significant injury to the Union industry. The Commission has found dumping margins ranging from 22,8% to 60,1% for the foreign producers concerned.

The provisional duties imposed by the Commission are significantly lower than the dumping margins, ranging from 21,6% to 35,9%. “These measures will neither lead to a restriction in the availability of GOES nor to inordinate price increases. Rather, the measures will simply restore free trade in the EU market at non-injurious prices”, explains EUROFER Director General Axel Eggert.

GOES is a highly-specialized product essential for the production of power transformers and is one of the primarily elements affecting the efficiency of power transformers. Therefore, maintaining a healthy European production base for GOES is crucial for the long-term health of the EU transformer industry and the upgrade and expansion of the Union electrical grid. “It is not a question of pitting jobs in the European transformer industry against those in the European GOES industry. Both industries depend upon one another and the attainment of the Union’s energy goals depends upon the health of both industries together”, adds Eggert.

The only viable solution is that the price paid by transformer producers for GOES accurately reflects the costs and normal profit involved in producing this strategic product. This is precisely what anti-dumping measures are designed to do. Through such measures, the price of transformers will reflect the real costs associated with manufacturing this end-product and both the European GOES industry and the European transformer industry can enjoy sustainable financial health and maintain the highest possible number of manufacturing jobs in the Union.

Steel is 100 % recyclable, over and over again, without loss of its unique properties – a permanent material for today´s and future generations. STEEL MADE IN EUROPE is essential. The EU steel industry plays a vital role in many of Europe´s strategic supply chains. It offers value added products and services developed in close cooperation with its customers to create a stronger, lighter and more sustainable world. EUROFER, the European Steel Association, represents almost 100 percent of steel made in Europe, combining a turnover of approximately €166 billion – a share of 1.3 percent in the EU’s GDP. At more than 500 steel production and processing sites in 24 EU member states we provide direct employment for 335 thousand people and indirect employment for millions of European citizens.