US and EU steel unions call for global deal that puts workers first

“The time of cheap steel and non-ferrous metals produced under unfair market conditions and flooding open markets must end,” unions said.

US-based steelworkers union and European steelworkers union IndustriAll on October 18 asked US and EU trade representatives to develop a Global Steel and Aluminum Agreement that guarantees workers' rights in addition to addressing non-market overcapacity and carbon intensity.

The letter, addressed to US Trade Representative Katherine Tai and European Commission executive vice-president Valdis Dombrovskis, comes ahead of the EU-US summit on October 20, where a new bilateral agreement on sustainable steel and aluminum is expected to be announced.

The US and EU, which have set an October 31 deadline for reaching an agreement, had previously said like-minded economies would be invited to participate in the agreement.

“Unions insist that interested partners should only be able to join GASSA if they respect the rights of international workers; "lowering standards and working conditions in an attempt to remain 'competitive' is inexcusable," the unions said in their letter. “Furthermore, unfair government aid must end, and unions insist that aid linked to decarbonization efforts must have social conditions and cannot exacerbate global overcapacity.”

Trade unions say the US and EU have the potential to become global leaders in efforts to decarbonise the steel and non-ferrous metals industries.

“However, a successful path to GASSA will require strong and reactive trade protection measures,” they say. “This should encourage global manufacturers to meet or exceed our shared values ​​for a cleaner environment to help combat climate change, as well as respect internationally recognized and democratic labor rights.”

The groups noted a September report from the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development's Steel Committee that said global steel production is forecast to reach 2.5 billion tonnes in 2023, with an increase of 56 million tonnes this year alone, marking the biggest ever annual growth over a decade. .