Riegel/Straßburg, 11 September 2023 – In a strong appeal to Members of the European Parliament, Thorsten Gerber, CEO of the Gerber Group, has called for immediate political scrutiny of recent anti-circumvention actions in the stainless steel sector. He warns that these measures are driven by aggressive lobbying from multinational corporations seeking to establish an oligopoly — at the expense of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and free market principles.
Gerber Group Warns: “Oligopolies Undermine Fair Competition and EU Credibility”
“Under the guise of trade enforcement, we are witnessing the consolidation of market power in the hands of a few – with the support of EU institutions and without proper parliamentary oversight,” Gerber stated. “This not only harms European SMEs, but also damages the EU’s credibility as a rules-based trading partner.”
Specifically, the Gerber Group questions the legality and legitimacy of the recently initiated anti-circumvention procedures (Commission Implementing Regulations (EU) 2023/1631 and 2023/1632). These, Gerber argues, were pushed forward under lobbying pressure, bypassing democratic channels and threatening to exclude key global suppliers.
Gerber calls on the European Parliament to:
- Review the motivations and implications of the anti-circumvention measures
- Launch an antitrust investigation into the role of industrial lobbying in Brussels
- Restore trust in EU trade policy by protecting competition and transparency
“Europe was not built for the benefit of a few corporations,” Gerber concluded. “It was built to serve its people and empower SMEs — the true engine of prosperity and resilience.”
The Gerber Group urges the Parliament to act swiftly to defend democratic institutions and fair economic order in the EU.
Your press contact
Björn Kammeyer
Head of Marketing Gerber Group
Phone: +49 7642 9282851
Mail: pr@steelnews.biz
We at the Gerber Group have been trading in stainless steel worldwide for over 20 years. We are your experts when it comes to purchasing, import, logistics and services. Information is a vital part of this. Because only then can you and we make the right decisions. Do you have any questions? Contact us now.
Disclaimer: Many things here represent our opinion. Others are information from the Internet. We can therefore never claim to be correct or complete. And never base a business decision solely on the news you receive from us.
