Steel tariffs and housing costs
Fergus O'Dowd warned that EU quotas and tariffs on imported steel were raising costs, threatening jobs and making homes more expensive to build. The Taoiseach said the issue stemmed from US tariffs and EU safeguard measures, and that officials were engaging with the Commission and industry.
There is a huge demand for affordable housing, which is in an increasing crisis with the rising cost of imported materials, such as steel, that cannot be supplied by the EU. Imports coming in from outside the EU are subject to a quota and also a 25% tariff. In this quarter, the quota for the quarter was exceeded on the very first day. A steel importer I am aware of had to pay Revenue €300,000 on that day. There will be jobs lost, prices will go up and homes will not be built because people cannot get steel at the price at which they should get it. The only people who are benefiting are the mill owners in Europe. Will the Taoiseach please intervene with his EU colleagues to make sure the quota is increased in order that businesses which cannot get steel from the EU because their order book is full can import it without this huge tariff, which increases the price of housing and makes it more difficult for ordinary people to get their own homes?
Comment on this
The Deputy has outlined what is a very significant issue. It goes back, as he knows, to the United States applying a 25% tariff on steel originating from third countries back in 2018 and the European Union responding in terms of its market. This has been exacerbated by Brexit, with the UK becoming a third country since 1 January and being subject to EU safeguard measures. The measures that are in place allow for the importation of steel from third countries by way of quotas determined in line with traditional volumes of trade in steel. The current measures will be subject to a full review before 30 June 2023 to determine whether they should be terminated in response to market conditions of trade in steel at that point. That said, it is recognised that importers can face significant burdens, including administrative burdens, when trying to source materials from third countries where there is a limited commercial relationship between the producer and the importer.
Comment on this
In that regard, officials in the Tánaiste's Department have routinely raised the issue with Commission officials-----
Comment on this
-----and will continue to do so. They will engage with the industry and representative groups on the matter and keep engaging with the EU officials-----