Stefan Brupbacher, director of Swissmem, has firmly rejected the notion of state support for the steel industry, arguing that it is not systemically relevant. In an interview, he emphasized that subsidies are expensive and ineffective in the long run, suggesting that the industry’s overproduction is a structural issue. Instead of state aid, he advocates for measures like short-time work and fair competition conditions. The opinion aligns with that of the Swiss government, which also deems the steel sector as non-essential.