Fears are growing that the mega-merger between Tata and Thyssenkrupp’s European steel business to create a £13.3 billion-a-year industry giant and safeguard their futures – along with thousands of British jobs – will only grant a temporary reprieve. The “momentous” tie-up between Indian conglomerate Tata’s Europe steel business and Germany’s Thyssenkrupp comes as Western steel companies face intense competition from cut-price Chinese producers.