The agreed-upon measures include an EU import ban on Russian steel products currently under EU safeguard measures, amounting to €3.3 billion in lost export revenue for Russia. Increased import quotas will be distributed among other non-EU countries to compensate.
The EU, together with other World Trade Organization members, agreed March 15 to deny Russian products and services “most favored nation” treatment in EU markets. This follows a similar decision by G7 members enacted March 11. This will suspend the benefits that Russia enjoys as a WTO member.
“The EU stands united in its solidarity with Ukraine and will continue to support Ukraine and its people together with its international partners, including through additional political, financial and humanitarian support,” the commission said in a statement.
ArcelorMittal began to idle its steelmaking operations in Kryvyi Rih, Ukraine, on March 3, in order to ensure the safety and security of its people and assets.
“ArcelorMittal is deeply concerned about the situation in Ukraine and the threat to our employees and the entire Ukrainian population,” the company stated.
Metinvest Group’s Avdiivka coke plant was hit by heavy shelling March 13 but no casualties were reported.
Based in Mariupol, Ukraine, Metinvest has taken a series of steps to protect people and assets, help the country’s armed forces and territorial defense, and deploy resources toward humanitarian efforts.
“In order to prevent industrial accidents, as soon as hostilities began, we put our enterprises into hot conservation mode,” says CEO Yuriy Ryzhenkov. “First, we shut down both steel plants in Mariupol, then Zaporizhia. When the first missiles hit and the city was bombed, we stopped Zaporizhstal.”
The plants that remain in operation have switched to the production of anti-tank obstacles, known as hedgehogs. As of March 10, Metinvest has produced more than 3,500 anti-tank hedgehogs and more than 2,000 concrete blocks for shelters. The company has supplied at least 50 vehicles to Ukraine’s armed forces and allocated €10 million for the purchase of helmets, armored vests and first-aid kits for the territorial defense forces.
Further, Metinvest Poland opened a trans-shipment hub, where it is aggregating humanitarian aid coming from various European countries, then forwarding it to a humanitarian center in Zaporizhzhia. Metinvest expects delivery of more than 80 tonnes of food supplies.
Lastly, the company supplied all bomb shelters at Ilyich Steel and Azovstal with water, food and other essential items. Those shelters were opened to city residents, a number of whom have been staying there. As essentials run out, caravans of trucks and buses are forming, being refueled and are poised to drive supplies to aid Mariupol residents once humanitarian corridors are established.
In the U.S., the National Association of Manufacturers denounced Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, voiced support for the economic and financial sanctions implemented against Russia and called for the removal of the Russian Federation from the WTO.
The Aluminum Association condemned Russia’s actions in Ukraine and made donations to the International Committee of the Red Cross, which is providing humanitarian aid in Ukraine, and World Central Kitchen, which is feeding Ukrainian refugees in Poland.