Riegel/Strasbourg, 8 April 2025 – The Gerber Group has sharply criticized the European Commission’s recently presented Steel and Metals Action Plan, calling it a missed opportunity for Europe’s small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), which are once again left sidelined in favor of large multinational corporations.
EU Steel and Metals Action Plan Fails SMEs – Time for a Real Course Correction
“This plan does not bring relief to SMEs — it brings more bureaucracy, more costs, and even less competitiveness,” said Thorsten Gerber, CEO of the international stainless steel and aluminium trader based in Germany. “The proposals serve entrenched industrial giants while SMEs are left without support or a genuine seat at the table.”
The Gerber Group highlights key failings in the plan:
- CBAM remains a bureaucratic trap for SMEs, with the so-called simplifications proving to be largely symbolic. A minor oversupply in imports can trigger full CBAM liability, driving up costs by over 26% — or even 130% with actual emissions values.
- EU subsidies and ETS allowances continue to benefit large producers while SMEs struggle to access funding due to complex application processes and disproportionate compliance burdens.
- Domestic steel producers import millions of tonnes of slabs and stainless steel while lobbying for tariffs that block SME imports — a double standard that distorts competition and inflates prices.
- Europe’s stainless steel mills cannot meet demand, yet continue to receive protection under CBAM and Safeguards, harming downstream industries.
The Gerber Group calls on MEPs to push for immediate reforms: simplify CBAM for SMEs, end market protection for underperforming giants, and prioritize fair access, competition, and affordable raw materials for Europe’s true industrial backbone — its SMEs.
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