Steel and Strategy - EUNews pietro paganini

Steel and Strategy – EUNews
My latest editorial has been published by EUNews, where I explore how the West can respond to China’s dominance in the global steel industry and reclaim industrial leadership.

Steel and Strategy 

In my recent editorial for EUNews, I examine how China’s supremacy in the steel industry is no accident, but the result of decades of state support, overproduction, and long-term industrial planning. Today, China produces more than half the world’s steel, giving it immense power over global supply chains and industrial standards. Steel is not just an economic asset; it’s a pillar of national security, infrastructure, and sovereignty.

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Europe has begun to recognize the challenge and respond with coordinated strategies, cross-border investment, and protective measures against foreign takeovers. European steelmakers are aligning with long-term goals around sustainability, innovation, and resilience. But the scale of the global steel race requires more than Europe acting alone.

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I argue for a broader Western coalition that includes the United States and key allies like Japan. Together, these nations possess the technological expertise, financial strength, and shared values to build a transatlantic and transpacific industrial base capable of competing with authoritarian state capitalism.

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A concrete step in this direction is the recent approval of the Nippon Steel–U.S. Steel deal. Beyond its economic impact, this partnership signals deeper strategic alignment between allies. It shows that trusted foreign investment can strengthen — not threaten — a country’s industrial base.
However, one deal is not enough. The West must adopt a clear and confident strategy that prioritizes openness among allies, long-term investment in domestic capabilities, and protection of strategic sectors from coercion. Steel is only the beginning, what’s at stake is who sets the rules for 21st-century industry.


This is not just about steel. It’s about leadership, collaboration, and defending the future of the free world through smart, strategic industrial policy. Let me know if you’d like a LinkedIn version or a visual banner quote.

Steel and Strategy – EUNews

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PNR