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EconomicChina·Unpinned26 Aug 2026 · 1d ago

Qiushi Journal urges Chinese steel sector to avoid U.S. rust belt fate

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The Qiushi Journal and the China Iron and Steel Association published an article urging China's steel sector to avoid the industrial decline experienced by the U.S. rust belt. The publication emphasized that China, which produced over 960 million tonnes of crude steel in 2025, should not permit market-driven liquidation of the sector despite shrinking margins and foreign trade restrictions. The article argued that the steel industry is vital to national economic security and should not be contracted to prioritize emerging industries.

Consequences

China may implement policies to prevent the contraction of its steel sector to avoid the regional economic recession, job losses, and reduced innovation associated with de-industrialization. This approach suggests that the state will likely prioritize the maintenance of traditional industrial capacity over market-driven shifts in resource allocation.

Sources

SCMP
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