In its first reading today, the European Parliament approved the compromise proposal negotiated with the Council for the introduction of steel tariffs of 50% and a reduction in quotas. Of the 661 votes cast, 606 were in favour, 16 against, and 39 Members of Parliament actively abstained.

The EU Member States must now still approve the proposal.

In yesterday’s debate in the European Parliament, alongside many uncritical voices, several Members also expressed clear criticism of the measure. Among other things, they pointed out that small and medium-sized enterprises would suffer disproportionately severely from the introduction of the measure.

Thorsten Gerber, CEO of the Gerber Group, said: “My thanks go to all those parliamentarians who clearly opposed this enormous mistake, or did so through their active abstention, and thereby tried to prevent the steel tariffs and quotas.”