EU asks Russia to remove controls on copper scrap

摘要

London, Washington―The European Union asked Russia last week to abolish the Kremlin's strict controls on the exports of copper, aluminum and steel scrap in a bid to alleviate the difficulties being endured by Europe's primary metals producers. European Trade Commissioner Pascal Lamy called on Russia to remove its barriers to exports of secondary metal during talks with Gherman Gref, Russia's Minister of Economic Development and Trade, late last week. In particular, European copper producers claim they are enduring increasing hardship as a result of scarce raw material supplies and the voracious demand for secondary copper from Chinese consumers. China imported 334,000mt, or two-thirds, of copper scrap exports from the EU last year, according to figures supplied by Eurometaux, a confederation of European metals producers which has been lobbying the EC to take action.