China cuts steel import tariffs to push industry to improve

China has suspended some import duties on steel as part of a multiyear campaign to force the state-dominated Chinese industry to become more energy efficient and profitable

BEIJING -- China suspended some import taxes on steel Wednesday as part of a multiyear campaign to use market pressures to force Chinese producers to shrink and become more energy efficient and profitable. Duties on crude steel, pig iron, recycled steel and some other products will be suspended May 1, the Finance Ministry announced. It said export taxes of 15%-25% will be imposed on high-purity pig iron and other products. The changes will cut prices for Chinese buyers and promote “the transformation, upgrading and high-quality development of the steel industry,” the ministry said. It said that includes reducing domestic production. China produces about half the world’s steel but a slowdown in demand as an economic boom cooled after 2008 left excess production capacity and led to price-cutting wars, a surge in exports and heavy financial losses.