Oslo: Norway has expressed strong opposition to the European Union's plan to impose safeguard measures on ferroalloy imports, asserting that such restrictions would violate the European Economic Area (EEA) Agreement and undermine the principles of the internal market. Minister of Trade and Industry Cecilie Myrseth communicated the Norwegian government's stance, emphasizing that Norway should not be included in these protective measures.
According to Anadolu Agency, Myrseth informed state broadcaster NRK that the EU had notified Norway of its intention to include the country in the proposed measures. She emphasized the government's belief that the EEA Agreement should preclude Norway from being subject to such restrictions. Myrseth also noted that Norway has been in dialogue with Brussels since the EU initiated an investigation last December into potential safeguard actions on ferroalloys. The proposal is now set to be reviewed by EU member states in the coming days.
Ferroalloys are crucial in steelmaking and other strategic industrial production processes. Finance Minister Jens Stoltenberg, currently in Brussels for discussions with Nordic and European counterparts, indicated that there are no signs of Norway being exempted from the measures. He reiterated Norway's stance that the EU Commission's proposal contradicts the EEA Agreement and the concept of an open internal market. The proposal will be deliberated by EU member states in a safeguard tariff committee meeting on Friday. Stoltenberg highlighted that until a final decision is reached, the outcome remains uncertain.
Norwegian industry groups have voiced concerns about the potential impact of the EU's plan on the country's industrial base. Harald Solberg, CEO of Norsk Industri, stated that the proposed quotas for Norwegian ferroalloy industry represent a significant departure from the logic of the internal market. He warned that it could drive a significant wedge into strategic industrial cooperation with the EU and weaken the foundation for investments in Norwegian industry.
Norway is a major supplier of ferroalloys to the EU, accounting for approximately 43% of the bloc's imports. The proposed measures could potentially impact up to 2,000 Norwegian jobs, as estimated by industry sources. Elkem, a leading ferroalloy producer in Norway, is closely observing the situation. A report by Menon Economics highlights that around 410,000 jobs in Norway are directly linked to exports and EEA market access.