Representatives of five major NAFTA (North American Free Trade Agreement) steel associations - American Iron and Steel Institute (AISI), Steel Manufacturers Association (SMA), Specialty Steel Industry of North America (SSINA), Canadian Steel Producers Association (CSPA) and Mexican Steel Producers Association (CANACERO) - met with representatives of the Latin American Iron and Steel Association (ILAFA) on October 24 in Cancun, Mexico to address the trade aspects of the global economic crisis.
AISI reported that the Americas steel producers expressed a shared concern that severe deterioration in world steel market conditions poses a renewed and serious threat of "major steel trade distortions" and "significant surges" of steel and steel containing products to the Americas.
The groups urged their governments to remain vigilant and committed to enforcing national trade laws against non-market behavior by China and other offshore governments and producers.
The steelmakers, according to AISI's report, also reaffirmed their strong support for: effective national trade laws to counter trade-distorting practices by governments and producers - in particular, in non-market economies; elimination of government subsidies to steel and steel-related industries; private ownership of steel companies everywhere; WTO-rules-based trade in raw materials, steel and downstream goods; and the ending of investment restrictions in steel and related industries.