China's surge as steel exporter linked to trade-distorting energy subsidies

A comprehensive report released January 8 highlights the massive increase in China's trade-distorting energy subsidies to its steel industry. This correlates to a surge in steel production there that took China from being a net importer of steel in 2005 to being the world's largest exporter by volume in 2006.

Though subsidies fell in 2002 and 2003—following China's admission to the World Trade Organization (WTO) in 2001—subsidies jumped exponentially from 2004-2007. In fact, notes the report, from 2000 to 2006, China's total energy subsidies to the steel industry grew by 1,365 percent. In 2007, energy subsidies are estimated at $15.7 billion, for a 3,800-percent increase since 2000.

In 2006, China could claim 34 percent of global steel production of 1.24 billion tons, for an annual compounded six-year growth rate of 34 percent.

China shipped 5.4 million tons of steel to the U.S. in 2006—more than double the amount in 2005.

WTO membership calls for transparency in the reporting of state support for industry so as “to enable other members to evaluate the trade effects and to understand the operation of notified subsidy programs.”

Energy subsidies to the China steel industry have risen in correlation with the industry’s growth and exports, exceeding $7.8 billion in the first half of 2007.

The Alliance for American Manufacturing (AAM), which commissioned the study, is urging Congress and the administration to address this issue, which it says greatly slants international trade to favor China, and which is in explicit violation of free and fair trade stipulated by its membership in the WTO.