Thousands march in Brussels against cheap Chinese steel imports

AFP, BRUSSELS: Thousands of European steelmakers descended on the EU capital Brussels yesterday demanding that officials do more to stop the flood of cheap imports from China.
Police said about 5,200 representatives from Europe’s struggling steel industry circled the EU’s Berlaymont headquarters demanding that China be denied market-economy status, an official designation that would make it harder to raise barriers against cheap Chinese steel products.
“Say ‘no’ to MES for China,” said a banner carried by steelworkers dressed in hardhats and fluorescent uniforms, referring to the market economy status long denied Beijing. China joined the World Trade Organization in 2001 as a developing country economy run largely by the state but was promised a review within 15 years to win a change in status to put it on a par with its major trading partners.
Without the market economy status, the WTO’s 162 member countries are much freer to slap anti-dumping measures on cheap Chinese products.
The Unites States and Canada are determined to continue denying China the designation, but fears are that Europe may forge ahead in an effort to avoid angering Chinese authorities.

Thousands march in Brussels against cheap Chinese steel imports

AFP, BRUSSELS: Thousands of European steelmakers descended on the EU capital Brussels yesterday demanding that officials do more to stop the flood of cheap imports from China. Police said about 5,200 representatives from Europes struggling steel industry circled the EUs Berlaymont headquarters demanding that China be denied market-economy status, an official designation that would make it harder to raise barriers against cheap Chinese steel products. Say no to MES for China, said a banner carried by steelworkers dressed in hardhats and fluorescent uniforms, referring to the market economy status long denied Beijing. China joined the World Trade Organization in 2001 as a developing country economy run largely by the state but was promised a review within 15 years to win a change in status to put it on a par with its major trading partners. Without the market economy status, the WTOs 162 member countries are much freer to slap anti-dumping measures on cheap Chinese products. The Unites States and Canada are determined to continue denying China the designation, but fears are that Europe may forge ahead in an effort to avoid angering Chinese authorities.