The Brazilian government is being pressured once again by the local steel association, IABr, and its affiliated steelmakers, to consider more protectionist trade measures that could potentially protect the local steel industry.
Discussions to apply duties over steel imports, mainly from China and Russia, emerged once again after Brazil sent two foreign trade analysts to the Chinese cities of Maanshan, Chengde, Tangshan and Benxi to investigate potential dumping practices in the exports of finished flat steel from China to Brazil.
The foreign trade analysts were sent to make “in loco” visits to Maanshan Iron and Steel Co. Ltd., Hesteel Company Limited, Bengang Steel Plates Co. Ltd. and Benxi Iron and Steel International Economic and Trading Co. Ltd. The products analyzed included finished flat steel, both alloyed or non-alloyed, hot rolled, in plates, not rolled or in coils.
Similarly, a trade commerce analyst was also sent to Cherepovets, Russia, and Lugano, Switzerland, to investigate exports of HRC from those two countries.
Meanwhile, the IABr seeks additional measures that could incentivize the Brazilian steel industry, at the same time it becomes more competitive.
IABr’s agenda echoes the agenda discussed at the Alacero conference in Rio last year, during which the association called for more AD duties over imported steel, while increasing the Reintegra program (a pay-back tax export program) to 3 percent.
IABr is expected to release on Tuesday its quarterly steel data, including local crude steel production, steel sales, and steel imports.