Ensuring free trade will be the main focus for metal exporters over the coming years, according to the BIR ferrous division president.
Germany’s TSR Recycling senior consultant Christian Rubach warned that protectionism is on the increase in his opening remarks to the latest BIR World Mirror Ferrous Metals.
He said: “My personal opinion is that, in the coming years, the main focus of our national federations and for BIR, as well as for all exporting companies, will be to ensure free and fair trade worldwide.
“Protectionism, especially when it comes to secondary raw material exports, export restrictions and trade barriers of all kinds, has been put on the agenda in many countries around the globe.
“All of us will have to convince, to lobby, to persuade legislators, politicians and all other decision-makers that free trade in accordance with WTO regulations is the only way towards prosperity.”
The BIR World Mirror Ferrous Metals also showed that January to December 2011 showed higher steel scrap consumption for crude steel production in China, the EU 27 and Turkey.
