SteelOrbis Shanghai
China's Ministry of Commerce announced on December 31 that China is canceling its export license management for steel products, effective as of January 1, 2009.
According to the 2009 Catalogue of Goods Subject to Export License Management, the category of metals and metal products will no longer include steel products, - in the latest move aimed at boosting steel exports following the earlier cancellation of export tariffs on steel products. China had previously announced the scrapping of export duties on steel products under 67 HS codes, effective as of December 1, 2008.
Although the Chinese government has abolished a series of policies liable to curb steel exports, the export outlook for 2009 looks very grim on account of the sluggish international demand and the trade protection measures implemented by a number of countries. In addition, the previous export license management failed to put any specific restrictions on exports, only making procedures more complicated for exporters as they were required to apply for an additional registration, which actually did not curb exports at all. Therefore, cancellation of the export license management is not expected to have a substantial impact as regards stimulating steel exports.