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EU adopts revised WSR, no ban on scrap exports to OECD

  • Market: Electricity, Metals
  • 01/12/22

A European Parliament committee voted on Thursday to adopt new regulations that will place restrictions on exports of scrap metal from the EU to non-OECD countries but resisted pressure to adopt similar restrictions on exports to OECD importers.

The Committee on the Environment, Public Health and Food Safety (ENVI) adopted a position on revisions to the European Waste Shipment Regulation (WSR) that was largely unchanged from the initially proposed legislation in November 2021.

Under the amended WSR, exports of non-hazardous waste for recovery, under which classification ferrous and non-ferrous scrap metal falls under EU law, will be allowed only to non-OECD countries that apply for consent and demonstrate their ability to treat waste sustainably via third-party audits.

The ENVI Committee would not commit to equivalent restrictions on exports to OECD countries, which means there is no direct restriction on exports of ferrous scrap from the EU to Turkey, the largest importer of ferrous scrap from the block by a distance.

But the Committee said the European Commission will monitor waste exports to OECD countries more closely to ensure that shipments are managed in an environmentally sound manner in line with EU regulation and that they do not adversely affect the management of domestic waste in their country.

European metals recycling trade associations told Argus that they fear this commitment to the monitoring of exports to OECD countries provides the European steel industry with an instrument to push for suspension of scrap metal exports at any time.

"Since the design has not yet been determined, there is considerable planning uncertainty and trade could be severely disrupted if bureaucratic problems arise in the course of implementation," representatives of German trade associations BVSE and VDM said.

"The tension between recyclers and producers on this issue has not yet been resolved. Unfortunately, it can be assumed that the steel and metal industry will continue to fight against metal exports."

That tension between the steel and recycling industries has grown increasingly rancorous this year as the steel lobby has ramped up calls for scrap metal to be kept within Europe in the face of soaring energy costs for steelmakers and the progression of decarbonisation plans that involve the transition from blast furnaces to electric arc furnaces that consume more scrap.

European trade associations reiterated that even the restrictions imposed on exports to non-OECD countries will be harmful to the recycling sector. Non-OECD countries including India, Pakistan and China are major consumers of EU ferrous, aluminium, copper and stainless steel scrap.

A survey of 111 companies by the European Recycling Association (EuRIC) found that more than 50pc of metals recyclers expect a decrease in employment owing to the WSR revision and that more than 80pc expect a decrease in turnover, with 84pc of that segment stating that the decrease will correspond to more than 20pc of their annual turnover.

"The procedures for the export of recycled materials still classified as waste laid down in the Waste Shipment Regulation (WSR) are burdensome, costly, and time-consuming," EuRIC said in a letter yesterday. "European recyclers are therefore in favour of an ambitious revision of the WSR that effectively combats illegal shipments while levelling the playing field with extracted raw materials."

Aside from the export restrictions, the WSR revision also proposes new rules to improve information exchange and transparency on intra-EU waste shipments, including the development of uniform criteria for waste classification and a requirement to digitalise the exchange of information and documents on trade within a central electronic system.

The legislation is also intended to improve the EU's ability to tackle illegal waste shipments.

The WSR amendment will now move to a vote for adoption in the European Parliament's January plenary sitting, which will form the basis for the parliament's negotiating position with EU governments on the final form of the legislation.


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10/03/25

Ontario adds fee for electricity exports to US: Update

Ontario adds fee for electricity exports to US: Update

Updates with comments from US utilities Calgary, 10 March (Argus) — Ontario is imposing a 25pc tariff on electricity exports to the US starting today, carrying through on its threatened retaliation for a trade war started by US president Donald Trump. "We will apply maximum pressure to maximize our leverage, that's why today we're moving forward with a 25pc surcharge on electricity exports for the 1.5mn American homes and business that Ontario powers," Ontario premier Doug Ford said today in Toronto. Ontario was the largest exporter of electricity to the US in 2023, sending 15.2 TWh to New York, Michigan and Minnesota. The neighbouring province of Quebec, which exported 13.4 TWh the same year to New York and New England, has said it is also considering its options amid the trade war. Ford said he feels "terrible" because average consumers will pay when it is really Trump who is responsible. The surcharge will cost the US up to $400,000/d, amounting to an increase of $100 for consumers each month, according to Ford. "I will not hesitate to increase this charge," said Ford. "If necessary, if the United States escalates, I will not hesitate to shut the electricity off completely." Trump on 4 March imposed a 10pc tax on Canadian energy imports, a 25pc tariff on non-energy imports from Canada and a 25pc tariff on all imports from Mexico. But executive orders that he signed on 6 March exempted North American trade covered by the US-Mexico-Canada (USMCA) free trade agreement from new tariffs after 12:01am eastern time on 7 March. Trump has said he is delaying the tariffs on Canada and Mexico until 2 April, but his executive orders make no mention of that restart date. Minnesota Power, a subsidiary of Allete, imports "a small portion" of its electricity from Ontario but expects the impact to be "negligible", the utility said. Minnesota Power receives 11pc of its of its energy supply from Manitoba Hydro, but Manitoba has not followed Ontario's lead and imposed a surcharge. Michigan's largest utility, Consumers Energy — which serves 6.8mn of the state's 10mn residents — does not purchase power from Ontario. Xcel Energy, which serves customers in Minnesota and Michigan, also said it did not buy power from Ontario. By Brett Holmes and Anna Harmon Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2025. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.

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Mexico inflation quickens in February


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France's energy plan to allow new fossil-fired plants


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10/03/25

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Ontario adds 25pc tariff on electricity exports to US


10/03/25
News
10/03/25

Ontario adds 25pc tariff on electricity exports to US

Calgary, 10 March (Argus) — Ontario is imposing a 25pc tariff on electricity exports to the US starting today, carrying through on its threatened retaliation to a trade war started by US president Donald Trump. "We will apply maximum pressure to maximize our leverage, that's why today we're moving forward with a 25pc surcharge on electricity exports for the 1.5mn American homes and business that Ontario powers," Ontario premier Doug Ford said Monday in Toronto. Ontario was the largest exporter of electricity to the US in 2023, sending 15.2 TWh to New York, Michigan and Minnesota. The neighbouring province of Quebec, which exported 13.4 TWh the same year to New York and New England, has said it is also considering its options amid the trade war. Ford added he feels "terrible" because average consumers will pay when it is really Trump who is responsible. The surcharge will cost the US up to $400,000 each day, amounting to an increase of $100 for consumers each month, according to Ford. "I will not hesitate to increase this charge," said Ford. "If necessary, if the United States escalates, I will not hesitate to shut the electricity off completely." Trump on 4 March imposed a 10pc tax on Canadian energy imports, a 25pc tariff on non-energy imports from Canada and a 25pc tariff on all imports from Mexico. But executive orders that he signed on 6 March would exempt North American trade covered by the US-Mexico-Canada (USMCA) free trade agreement from new tariffs after 12:01am eastern time on 7 March. Trump has said he is delaying the tariffs on Canada and Mexico until 2 April, but his executive orders make no mention of that deadline. By Brett Holmes Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2025. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.

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I-REC, I-Track demand soars in Feb alongside supply


10/03/25
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10/03/25

I-REC, I-Track demand soars in Feb alongside supply

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