Mexico joins other nations in WTO complaint on Chinese steel

11 Nov 2009

After the European Union (EU), the US and India, it is now the turn of Mexico to file a case against Chinese steel imports and has asked the World Trade Organization to investigate the subsidies given by the Chinese government to its steel companies.

Rafael Rubio, the president of Canacero's foreign trade committee in Mexico said that the Mexican steel industry has expressed its concern about the issue and the committee has handed over information about how the Chinese are controlling and protecting their trade, which is why the government decided to go to the WTO.

Mexican steelmakers comprising of AHMSA, Ternium and ArcelorMittal feel that China is altering market rules for its steelmakers by providing huge subsidies, which makes other global steelmakers uncompetitive in the world steel market.

Rubio said that the Mexican steel companies want the WTO to decide if China is or is not altering market rules.

Rubio said that the investigation is already under way and the Mexican steel sector hopes that other Latin America and Western governments will join them in the cause.

Ilafa, the international trade group of the Latin American Iron and Steel Institute, recently held meetings with officials from various Latin governments to discuss how to deal with China, which has subsidised its steel industry.