The U.S. government's latest decision of a 25-percent tariff hike on steel and aluminum imports is an act of trade protectionism, said an official of the China Iron and Steel Association (CISA).
According to the CISA, China's steel exports to the U.S. are relatively small, with only 890,600 tons of steel, or just 0.8 percent of China's total steel exports, exported to the U.S. in 2024. While the immediate impact on China's steel exports may be limited, there are concerns about long-term repercussions. There is a risk that other countries may follow the U.S., potentially diminishing China's steel export competitiveness, said Zhang Longqiang, deputy secretary-general of the association.
"We firmly oppose raising tariffs. We believe this action is not conducive to healthy or fair trade and market competition. It is, in essence, a form of trade protectionism. Raising tariffs will not protect the domestic steel industry. Instead, it may shield inefficiencies. In the medium to long term, such tariff hikes will have adverse effects on the global steel industry's industrial and supply chains, including China's," said Zhang.
Currently, China's steel industry is focusing on high-end and green steel products, which have become new growth drivers of the industry. In the face of additional U.S. tariffs, the industry needs to proactively adapt to changes and accelerate its transformation and upgrading, the association said.
"The industry and relevant departments have already conducted research on export tax rebates for high-end and green low-carbon steel products. We should further deepen these policy studies and actively respond. Moreover, we need to expedite the implementation of these measures," said Zhang.
US tariff hike on steel imports act of protectionism: China Iron and Steel Association
The death toll from ongoing Israeli attacks on Lebanon has risen to 634, including 91 children and 47 women, while 1,586 people have been wounded, Lebanese Health Minister Rakan Nasreddine said at a televised press briefing on Wednesday.
According to Nasreddine, the ongoing hostilities have also severely affected the health sector. He reported 22 attacks on medical facilities and services, including incidents targeting Red Cross ambulances.
The minister added that 15 health workers have been killed and 45 others wounded since the escalation began.
Meanwhile, the conflict has displaced 816,000 Lebanese, according to figures announced by Minister of Social Affairs Haneen Sayed at the same press briefing.
Sayed said that 816,000 people have registered on the ministry's relief platform as displaced. Of them, about 126,000 people are currently sheltering in 589 designated centers across the country.
Sayed added that the government is working on the ground to guide displaced families to available centers and arrange transportation to ensure they reach safe locations.
At least 17 people were injured in Israeli airstrikes targeting multiple areas in Beirut's southern suburbs, Lebanon's Health Ministry reported Wednesday.
In retaliation, Hezbollah started the "Al-Asf Al-Ma'koul" operations, launching rockets intensively toward northern Israel, according to Lebanon's National News Agency.
The group said it launched rocket salvos at multiple Israeli military sites, including the Northern Command headquarters at the Dado base, the Ein Zeitim base, and targets near Safed, Kiryat Shmona, Nahariyya, Haifa, and Lake Tiberias.
Meanwhile, the Israeli military said it began a "large-scale attack wave of strikes" on Beirut's southern suburb on Wednesday night in response to Hezbollah's rocket launches.
On March 2, Hezbollah announced the launch of rockets from Lebanon toward Israel for the first time since a ceasefire was declared on Nov 27, 2024.
Meanwhile, the Israeli army launched what it described as an "offensive military campaign" against Hezbollah, carrying out intense airstrikes on multiple Lebanese areas and border ground incursions.
Death toll from Israeli attacks in Lebanon rises to 634
