Raffmetal supports European Aluminium’s call for a more effective European trade policy

European Aluminium has published a position paper calling on European institutions to adopt stronger trade measures to safeguard the competitiveness and sustainability of the European aluminium industry.

In the document, the association highlights how aluminium represents a critical raw material for many technologies of the green and digital transition, while also playing a strategic role in Europe’s economic and industrial security.

However, the sector is currently facing:

• increasing pressures stemming from global overcapacity
• market distortions
• rising energy costs and growing exports of European scrap to third countries

Among the key recommendations for a more effective European policy, we highlight:

• strengthening trade defence instruments
• introducing effective measures to ensure the availability of scrap within the European Union
• adopting a cautious approach in international trade negotiations
• addressing the critical issues related to the CBAM mechanism
• introducing measures to prevent the indirect entry of aluminium originating from sanctioned contexts
• establishing a minimum European content of 80% for automotive companies assembling vehicles in Europe

Raffmetal fully supports the recommendations outlined in the position paper, recognizing the importance of a regulatory and trade framework consistent with Europe’s objectives of competitiveness, strategic autonomy and circular transition.

Ensuring fair market conditions and the availability of secondary raw materials is essential to enhance the role of aluminium recycling and to strengthen a resilient and sustainable European industrial ecosystem in the long term.