Industry statement on EU safeguard investigation on Grain-Oriented Electrical Steel

Industry statement on EU safeguard investigation on Grain-Oriented Electrical Steel

The opening of a safeguard investigation (SAFE011) into the import of grain-oriented electrical steel (GOES) by DG TRADE is causing great concern in Europe’s electricity sector.

GOES is a critical input for transformers, which are indispensable for electrifying the European economy. Any safeguard measure would not only directly affect the European transformer industry, operating more than 80 factories throughout the EU and employing more than 20,000 people. It would also immediately raise the cost of transformers for transmission and distribution system operators, electric utilities and large industrial sites.

T&D Europe and a broad coalition consisting of Europe’s renewable electricity generators, distribution system operators, transformer manufacturers and technology providers appeal to the European Commission and EU Member States in a joint industry statement.

1. We call on the European Commission to conclude its investigation and refrain from imposing any provisional or definitive safeguard measures on imports of GOES.
2. We call on EU Member States to oppose any safeguard measures on GOES imports to preserve the competitiveness of a critical and successful strategic net-zero industry sector, providing the technologies for Europe’s electricity system that will enable greater energy security and independence.

The coalition of CEDEC, GEODE, Orgalim, T&D Europe and Wind Europe raise 4 arguments:
• Safeguard measures will weaken European competitiveness and energy security
• Safeguard measures on GOES are not warranted
• Safeguard measures are not the solution
• There are better ways to strengthen Europe’s GOES industry