Riegel/Strasbourg, 1 September 2025 – In recent years, the competitiveness of European businesses has declined dramatically – with small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) particularly burdened by rising energy costs, high tariffs, and a policy framework that prioritizes regulation over opportunity.
The Single Market as a Key Factor
The European Single Market is meant to secure growth, yet in reality, internal trade barriers act as hidden tariffs: up to 45% in manufacturing and 110% in services. Trade restrictions and so-called Trade Defence Instruments (TDI) further aggravate the situation. According to a study by the INTA Committee (June 2025), TDIs lead to higher prices, less competition, and obstacles to innovation – increasingly serving as a political tool for powerful lobbies.
The Case of the Steel Industry
For SMEs, procurement costs, Safeguard (+25%), CBAM (+25%), and Single Market barriers (+45%) add up to a crushing burden. While large corporations can leverage economies of scale, SMEs cannot – leaving them as the true losers of the current policy framework.
Protection, Yes – But Fair Protection
With 32 million enterprises, 83.3 million employees, and a 52% share of European value creation, SMEs form the backbone of the European economy. Nevertheless, under the “Clean Industrial Deal” large corporations receive €100 billion, while SMEs are allocated only €500 million. This means €1,302 in support per employee in large corporations compared to just €6 per SME employee.
Thorsten Gerber Demands
Protection against unfair competition is necessary – but it must no longer serve only the interests of big industry. Europe’s SMEs need equal opportunities, renewed trust in political support, and market security.
With the Steel Carbon Shield we present a concrete proposal on how the EU can strengthen its industrial base and restore SME competitiveness – without new billions in subsidies, but by reinforcing trust in the responsibility of entrepreneurs.
Your press contact
Björn Kammeyer
Head of Marketing Gerber Group
Phone: +49 7642 9282851
Mail: pr@steelnews.biz
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