Steel industry: Merz: “Do everything to get steel industry”

Chancellor Friedrich Merz (CDU) is committed to the future of the German steel industry. “We will do everything we can to get steel industry and steel production in Germany,” he said during a visit to Saarland. “Germany will continue to need steel industry, modern steel industry, also towards the green steel industry in the future.”

Getting steel production in Germany is “a strategic interest in our country”. He was in the process of doing discussions with locations and workers that should be deepened in the next few weeks. “Because of course we also need a resilient, reliable steel strategy for our country,” said Merz.

Merz: Negotiate with US tariffs

After the customs deal between the United States and the EU, it must now be about “negotiating the small print, so to speak,” said Merz, referring to US tariffs of 50 percent. “This has to be made up for now, and in particular it will be about quotas that we can then export without being burdened with too high tariffs.”

The Saarland Prime Minister Anke Rehlinger (SPD) had repeatedly called for a commitment to the federal government to steel industry in the past few days. In conversation with Merz, there was “a big agreement” that the economic development and thus growth for this country have top priority, she said.

Rehlinger: Steel industry needs clarity

When switching to the production of green steel, steel companies quickly need clarity – in framework conditions, energy prices and the structure of the hydrogen infrastructure.

“An important signal is energy prices in Germany, a clear appointment within the federal government and thus an extremely strong signal.” Green lead markets and the infrastructure would have to follow.

Merz came to Saarland to visit Saarland. After receiving Rehlinger in the State Chancellery, the Völklinger Hütte World Heritage Site and the Helmholtz Center for Information Security (CISPA).

It is the third stop of Merz’s federal state visits, which has already traveled to Bavaria and Lower Saxony. The Chancellor plans to visit all 16 state governments.