Merz โฃUrges Steel Industry Safeguards Following Chancellery Summit
Berlin – following discussions at the Chancellery today,November 6,2025,Christian โคDemocratic โขUnion (CDU) leader friedrichโฃ Merz advocated for stronger protections โfor Germany’s domestic steel industry,citing unfair competition and the financial burden of transitioning to green energy production.federal Finance minister Lars Klingbeil underscored the need for a โคfirm stance, stating, “In the end we can’tโ be the stupid ones.”
The summit addressed โคgrowing โฃconcernsโค within the Germanโ steel โขsector, which is facing โpressure from inexpensive imports, โparticularly from Asia, andโค challenges posedโ by tariffs implemented by โthe United States. โSimultaneously, the โindustryโฃ is grappling with the substantial costs โฃassociated with decarbonizing its highly energy-intensive manufacturing processes. These converging โfactors threaten the viability of German steel producers and potentially impact โขemployment across the nation.
Klingbeil identified the debate surrounding industry protection โขas the central focusโฃ of the talks. While acknowledging the importance โof โrules-basedโ international trade, he emphasized the necessity of safeguarding German economic interests. The โฃsituation โขdemands a strategicโ responseโค to โensure the german โsteel industry remains competitive in a rapidly evolving global landscape.
