On 3rd June the European Union required fastener companies to obtain a prior licence to import an extensive range of steel and some stainless steel fasteners from any country outside its membership.
The surveillance system is part of wider ranging measures on steel imports, which EU Trade Commissioner Cecilia Malmstrom says will “assist the Commission to better monitor market developments in the steel sector and will give a strong political message to third countries that the EU is actively following the situation”. EU member countries are required to administer the licensing system and report import data to the Commission within ten days of the month end – far quicker than normal compilation of Eurostat import data.(…)
