Published by Global Banking & Finance Review®
Posted on February 26, 2026
2 min readLast updated: April 2, 2026
Add as preferred source on GoogleEurope’s steel lobby seeks inclusion of low-carbon steel in the EU’s Made in Europe act and a narrow definition of ‘local’. Carmakers want broader supply chains; scope disputes have delayed the proposal.
BRUSSELS, Feb 26 (Reuters) - Europe's steel industry said on Thursday that EU provisions due to be set out next week that prioritise the use of locally-made materials must include steel, and 'local' should be understood as only close EU neighbours such as Britain and Norway.
The EU executive is to propose its "Industrial Accelerator Act" next Wednesday, with requirements to prioritise locally manufactured products when public money is used.
The "Made in Europe" provision is designed to cover "key strategic sectors", including batteries, solar and wind energy, hydrogen manufacturing, nuclear power and electric vehicles. It is not clear if low-carbon steel would be included.
The plans were due to have been presented this week but were delayed by disagreements over the geographic scope.
Norway, Iceland and Liechtenstein, members of the EU's single market, are likely to be included.
"I would agree for those that have a very similar system to the EU to add them. I have no problem with the UK, but you cannot add all the FTA (Free Trade Agreement) countries," Axel Eggert, director general of steel association Eurofer said.
The Middle East/North Africa region, India, Indonesia and Vietnam should be excluded, he said.
"These are exactly those who create the overcapacity, who do not decarbonise in a way as we have to in the EU," he continued.
Carmakers and other industries have called for provisions to extend to include countries in their supply chains, such as Britain and Turkey.
Eggert said the latest draft appeared to have removed 'Made in Europe' requirements for steel.
He said many other trade partners were buying locally, "India massively, China, the U.S. all 'buy national', but they do it for all the production, and we are here just talking about low carbon steel. So if you want to trigger investment in the decarbonisation, then you have to put steel here as well," he said, referring to the Act.
(Reporting by Philip Blenkinsop; Editing by Alexandra Hudson)
Europe’s steel industry is urging the EU to include low-carbon steel in the Made in Europe act and to define ‘local’ narrowly, focusing on close EU partners. The article highlights competing industry views and the ongoing policy debate.
The Industrial Accelerator Act is an upcoming EU proposal to prioritise locally manufactured products in strategic sectors when public funds are used. Its Made in Europe clause would set local-content priorities to spur investment and decarbonisation.
Steelmakers want the UK and Norway counted as ‘local’ while excluding regions like MENA, India, Indonesia and Vietnam. Automakers and other industries argue for broader inclusion of supply-chain partners, including the UK and Turkey.
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