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European Steel Tube Association

ESTA

The European Steel Tube Association is representing the European manufacturers of steel tubes in the different areas of EU regulation, especially in regard of trade defence and environmental regulation, as well as normalization, foreign trade policy and other issues affecting the business of the EU steel tube producers.

Lobbying Activity

Response to Technical updates of the Emissions Trading Scheme (ETS) State aid guidelines

4 Sept 2025

Please find attached ESTA feeback on Technical updates of the Emissions Trading Scheme (ETS) State aid guidelines Consultation
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Meeting with Maria Isabel Garcia Catalan (Head of Unit Taxation and Customs Union)

4 Jun 2025 · Discussion on the possibility to review a binding non-preferential rule of origin for steel tubes and pipes

Meeting with Maroš Šefčovič (Commissioner) and

3 Mar 2025 · Steel tube industry challenges

Response to Ecodesign for Sustainable Products - Product priorities

11 May 2023

European Steel Tubes Association (ESTA) members see with interest the Ecodesign for Sustainable Products Regulation (ESPR) initiative of the European Commission. The extension of the Ecodesign Directive 2009/125/EC to a new wider range of products will be a fundamental step to grant to the EU the possibility to reach its challenging targets in terms of sustainability and circular economy. The definition and release of the delegated acts required to move from a general framework to fully functional legislation will be key to determine the impact and the effects that such will have on the different product group and in the end on the path toward sustainability. The definition of such delegated acts should take into consideration the peculiarity of each product/industry, considering the proper level of definition, the easiness to apply new legislation and the consistency among legislalton on intermediate products and end use products. The latter is very important to avoid that the lack of consistency of legislation lead to an easy-way to by-pass more stringent rule on intermediate product by purchasing end use product directly from outside EU perimeter (i.e. end use product with high content of steel tubes purchased directly from not EU). With this paper, ESTA would like to provide some suggestions in relation to Steel Tubes products which, representing approximatively 10% of Iron&Steel European in few product codes, could offer the opportunity of a fast and effective regulation through a dedicated delegated act. The main topics to be considered about ESTA members and markets are: European steel tubes industry has a long tradition of investments targeting the reduction of its production footprint and it has been subject to the different legislations in place in Europe. Thanks to investments done and those planned, European steel tube industry is going to confirm is role as worldwide model in terms of environmental focus. The investments carried out and planned will translate in higher cost, as capex to be depreciated and higher operative costs. Such higher costs, coupled with higher-than-extra EU competitors raw material cost (natural gas among others, lack of CO2 costing mechanism) represent a burden that the industry is willing to take to reach EU targets, but are to be considered when competing with players for countries where such focus/normative do not affect industrys costs. ESPR delegated act should hence constitute a tool to demonstrated consistency with EU target, by leveling the field of competition to the higher standards that EU steel tube producers reached, by including minimum requirement in terms of CO2 emission per ton of tubes produced, minimum quantity of recycled content and those parameters that differentiate the industry It is also very important that ESPR delegated act address the high risk of carbon leakage, which could be pushed by lack of coordination in ruling both intermediate goods (steel tubes) and end user goods (i.e equipment which has an high content of tubes but that are imported with different HS code). Ruling end use market will also generate a virtuous circle which will reward investment done and further investment EU steel tubes industry has enough capacity to replace import of not compliant goods, hence a regulation in this sense will not affect final market Delegated act on steel tubes could be tailored by HS code and, with few key parameters, should make later controlling easy and effective ESTA is since now on available for further consultation with the working group
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