Speaking at a parliamentary session in Paris, de la Salle emphasized that the European steel industry is on the brink of a serious crisis. “If measures are not taken to protect the European steel industry, there is a risk that all European steel mills will close by 2025”. Answering questions from MPs at the French National Assembly's Economic Affairs Committee, de la Salle added: “The European steel industry is experiencing a major crisis today. I cannot give any guarantees in the current circumstances. At the moment, both European and French plants are at risk.”
Highlighting the overcapacity in the global steel market, de la Salle indicated that this problem has become a structural problem. “The world's excess steel production is between 550-600 million tons per year. This is four to five times the total production of Europe. China alone exported 100 to 120 million tons last year, equivalent to Europe's annual steel consumption,”
De la Salle pointed to measures taken by the US to protect its steel industry and suggested that Europe should take similar steps. “We are not against the free movement of steel, but we need to limit the destructive effects of imports. We want fair competition, especially on carbon emission costs. If Europe does not prevent unfair competition, a large part of our industry will disappear in the very near future.” De la Salle pointed out that restructuring and closures are accelerating in the European steel industry. Citing German steel giant Thyssenkrupp's plan to cut 11,000 jobs by 2030 as an example, he added that this is becoming widespread across the industry. ArcelorMittal has suspended its decarbonization investment plans in Europe until the end of 2024.
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