German chancellor Friedrich Merz has backed protectionist measures to shield the country’s ailing steel industry from cheap Chinese imports, in a striking departure from the country’s traditional commitment to free trade.
Speaking on Thursday after talks with representatives of the steel sector at the chancellery, Merz said proposals from the EU commission to increase tariffs on steel imports and reduce duty-free quotas were going “in the right direction”.
He also supported taxing imported goods from countries that do not apply the same CO₂ emissions standards as the EU, and said he would favour incentives for companies to source EU-produced steel.
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