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German Vice Chancellor and Finance Minister Lars Klingbeil has called for a complete ban on steel imports from Russia ahead of the upcoming “Steel Summit” at the Chancellery, Der Spiegel reported on November 3.
Klingbeil, representing the Social Democratic Party (SPD), argued that raw steel slabs produced in Russia and processed within the EU remain exempt from sanctions—a situation he said is difficult to justify to workers in Germany’s steel industry.
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Klingbeil emphasized that Europe needs “more domestic production, a clear focus on climate-friendly quality steel made in Germany and Europe,” and urged a shift away from overseas dumping and global overcapacity. He said one key topic of discussion will be lowering energy costs via an industrial electricity price system, according to Der Spiegel.
The summit, convened by Chancellor Friedrich Merz on November 6, will bring together industry representatives and state premiers from regions with steel production, including North Rhine-Westphalia, Lower Saxony, Brandenburg, and Saarland. Klingbeil, Economics Minister Katherina Reiche, and Labor Minister Bärbel Bas will also attend.
Bas pledged government support for the steel industry, saying Germany will invest in the sector and expects companies to invest locally and support their workforce.
Previously, it was reported that Germany’s Economy Minister Katherina Reiche arrived in Kyiv to discuss measures to strengthen Ukraine’s energy resilience and deepen defense-industry cooperation amid intensified Russian strikes on the country’s infrastructure.
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