China will contest any 'unfair' U.S. trade measures on
steel: think-tank
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[February 13, 2018]
By Manolo Serapio Jr
MANILA (Reuters) - China will oppose any
"unfair and unreasonable" trade measures by countries such as the United
States against its steel companies, a Chinese government think-tank said
on Tuesday, arguing protectionism will "poison" the industry.
"Certainly we will protest against unfair and unreasonable measures
launched by some countries such as the U.S.A. towards Chinese steel
companies," the China Metallurgical Industry Planning and Research
Institute said in an email to Reuters.
"We will also study and discuss the counter-measures to try to seek a
fair position for Chinese companies without any violation of W.T.O.
(World Trade Organisation) agreement."
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The Institute, which provides consultancy services to Chinese government
policymakers and steel enterprises, was responding to recent efforts by
U.S. steel firms urging President Donald Trump to curb surging imports
they say are undermining the U.S. industry.
Trump will meet with a bipartisan group of lawmakers later on Tuesday to
discuss trade matters. The meeting comes a month after the Commerce
Department handed him the results of its investigation into steel and
aluminum imports, giving him 90 days to respond.
The Commerce Department has offered no insight into its conclusions,
although the probe could lead to broad tariffs or import quotas.
Trump is considering action on both steel and aluminum under the rarely
used 'Section 232' of a 1962 U.S. trade law, which allows for
restrictions to protect national security.
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![](../images/021318pics/busine68.jpg)
A worker helps load
steel bars onto a truck at warehouse in Tangshan in China's Hebei
Province August 3, 2015. REUTERS/Damir Sagolj/File Photo
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The Chinese think-tank said it its email that, "Trade protection will poison the
healthy development of steel industry. Only open and cooperation can expand the
common benefit."
The United States is the world's biggest steel importer, buying nearly 40
percent of shipments from Canada, Brazil and South Korea.
But China was not among the top 10 sources of U.S. steel imports in
January-September 2017, based on U.S. Commerce Department data.
Exports from China, the world's top steel producer, to the U.S. reached 1.18
million tonnes last year. That's a fraction of the 800 million tonnes it makes
each year, equal to about half of global output.
From a record high of 112.4 million tonnes in 2015, China's total steel exports
have fallen amid threats of a trade dispute and better demand at home. The
exports dropped to 75.4 million tonnes last year.
(Reporting by Manolo Serapio Jr.; Editing by Kenneth Maxwell)
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