Claims of dumping downed by China

CHINA on Tuesday dismissed Canadian accusations that it was flooding global markets with cheap steel, saying overcapacity in the industry was an international problem.

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said on Monday Canada was “very concerned” about actions taken by China and that his country has already taken steps to prevent “dumping”.

But Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Lu Kang responded on Tuesday that Beijing “has taken practical measures to address the overcapacity in the steel industry and at very great expense”.

“But I should stress that overcapacity of the steel industry is a global issue and cannot be resolved by any single party alone,” Lu said.

“We hope all steel-producing countries can make concerted efforts to reduce the capacity of the steel industry. This calls for international cooperation.”

Canada’s accusations came amid rising global trade tensions in the wake of US President Donald Trump’s decision to impose steep tariffs on imported steel and aluminium.

Canada – the top supplier of steel and aluminium to the US market – and Mexico have been temporarily exempted from the tariffs until trilateral continental trade talks conclude.

China is Canada’s secondlargest trading partner after the United States.

Trudeau’s dumping accusations against Beijing, which echoedTrump’s own message, come after exploratory talks with China failed to advance to bilateral free trade negotiations.