VDEh Steel Institute (Düsseldorf, Germany)

H. J. Kerkhoff, President of “Steel” Economical Union, e-mail: redaktion@stahleisen.de

Global structural problems, imperfect European foreign trade policy as well as additional load from the system of trade of emission quotes that is rather dangerous for the iron and steel industry are considered as the typical features of current state of European and German ferrous metallurgy. Consequences of the future foreign trade policy of the USA can be also very anxious for Europe. European Union should formulate its expected reaction on the challenges and even threats for its basic industries in the conditions of global structural crisis in metallurgy. Difficult and courage decisions are strictly required at present time to save competitiveness of European enterprises. Probable and desired restoration of the iron and steel industry seems to be based very uncertainly.