The European Recycling Industries’ Confederation (EuRIC) voices European steel recyclers’ position
against Market Economy Status for China (MES).

The surge of imports of steel products from China linked to Chinese steel overcapacity has considerably weakened the European steel recycling industry.

“At a time when the European Union strives to shift from a linear to a circular economy, a number of steel scrap recycling companies are paradoxically ceasing to operate temporally or definitively in Europe, as price levels jeopardize the economic viability of steel recycling”, stressed Mr. Emmanuel KATRAKIS, Secretary General of EuRIC.

Granting Market Economy Status to China at a time when China is objectively not a market based economy will:

•  Hamper the ability of the European Union to take effective remedial action against dumped and/or subsidised products;
•  Result in further job and investment losses in Europe;
•  Prevent the transition to a circular economy if prices render recycling not economically viable because of biased market conditions.

EuRIC supports the position shared by a number of other European industry associations from across the value chain against MES for China.

As outlined in a statement ahead of the Competitiveness Council of 9 November 2015 on the EU Steel Industry, “the transition to a circular economy requires a holistic and consistent approach across the whole spectrum of policies” continued Mr. Katrakis, which starts with:

• Free trade to ensure access to the world markets & fair trade to guarantee a level playing field;
• A well-functioning internal market for recycling activities;
• Appropriate measures to correct regulatory distortions and incentives to reflect in the prices the huge benefits recycling brings to the environment and society in terms of CO2, energy and natural resource savings.

About EuRIC
The European Recycling Industries’ Confederation, EuRIC AISBL, is the umbrella organisation for recycling industries in Europe. EFR, the ferrous Branch of EuRIC, represents the interests of the European steel scrap recycling sector, composed of hundreds of large and small companies, which collect, recycle and trade recycled steel scrap. Through its Member Federations from 19 EU and EFTA countries, EuRIC represents today across Europe over:
· 5,500 companies, including large companies and a vast number of SMEs, that are involved in the recycling and trade of resource various streams (metals, paper and beyond);
· 300,000 local jobs which cannot be outsourced to third EU countries;
· An average of 150 million tons of waste recycled per year (metals, paper and beyond);
· An aggregated annual turnover of about 95 billion euros.

Useful links:
• website
• @EuRIC_Recycling
• EuRIC concrete proposals for a market-driven circular economy