On Monday, Czech Industry and Trade Minister Jozef Síkela confirmed a request for preferential treatment on Russian steel imports until 2028, Euractiv reports.
Síkela added that the country could not replace the current Russian supplier. On Monday, he confirmed the request for an exemption at a Council meeting in Brussels. It will apply to imports of thick steel plates. He told journalists before Monday’s meeting:
In the current situation in the construction industry, in the construction of bridges, for example, we cannot do without them.
The Czech Republic is optimistic and expects the exemption to be granted. The minister said, adding that only a few suppliers now produce steel plates:
I firmly believe that the approach that sanctions should primarily harm the one they are intended against and not the one who applies them will be maintained and that in the given case, we will be satisfied.
The minister emphasised that the country was looking for other solutions, but there were no good options yet. He also admitted that some suppliers were located in China, but their products were not of high enough quality and supplies are unreliable. The current relaxation is only valid until next year, but like Belgium and Italy, the Czech Republic wants to get a relaxation for Russian steel imports until 2028.
Marek Vošahlík from the Ministry of Industry and Trade said that the annual steel consumption of the Czech industry until 2024 would be about 500,000 tonnes.
