Czech government seeks to get rid of sanctions on Russian steel imports
Kyiv • UNN
The Czech Republic is seeking an exemption from EU sanctions on Russian steel, citing a lack of viable alternative suppliers and concerns about the impact on the industry. Czech Minister Sikela is confident that they will receive an exemption during the discussion of the 12th EU sanctions package.
The Minister of of Industry and Trade of the Czech Republic, Josef Sikela, confirmed the request for an exception for of Russian steel imports, as the country cannot replace the current Russian supplier. The issue of extending the exemption is being considered in the as part of the negotiations on the twelfth package of sanctions against Russia, which was recently presented by the European Commission.
This was reported by UNN with reference to the Internet portal Ceske Noviny and Euractiv.
Details
Czech Minister of Industry and Trade Josef Sikela believes that the Czech Republic will receive an exemption for imports of Russian steel. Sikela said this in Brussels before a meeting of EU trade ministers. The official noted that the country is looking for other solutions, but there are none at the moment, and he admitted that some suppliers are located in China, but their products are not of high enough quality and the deliveries are unreliable.
I firmly believe that the approach that sanctions should primarily harm the one against whom they are directed, not the one who imposes them, will be maintained, and that in this case we will get permission
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The current exception will be valid only until next year, although, like Belgium and Italy, the Czech Republic wants to to get an exemption for imports of Russian steel until 2028, the Czech news agency reported. In particular, in the Czech Republic, the Ostrava-based metallurgical company Vítkovice Steel is seeking an extension of the exemption for imports of Russian steel until 2028. Jana Dronska, a spokeswoman for Vítkovice Steel, told the Czech News Agency that if the exemption expires, it could lead to a crisis in the construction or automotive industries.
To recap
Some EU countries EU countries have called for easing of anti-Russian sanctionsin the new 12th package, as they fear that contractual requirements may put European companies at a competitive disadvantage.
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