Japan, EU Discuss on BHP Billiton’s Purchasing Plan

Delegations of Japanese government, EU government and steel industry will hold 8th round dialogue on 7 April in Tokyo. They will discuss on BHP Billiton’s plan to acquire Rio Tinto. They see the plan as a problem which the plan inhibits fairness of competition. EU dealt with antidumping for Chinese excess steel capacity and export issue. They converse Chinese issue. Japanese delegations included Mr. Masaki Ishikawa, who is director of iron and steel division of Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry, managing directors of Japanese 5 integrated steel makers, Japanese Iron and Steel Association, chief of Directorate General of Trade, managing director of iron, steel and non-ferrous division of Directorate General of Industry. They discuss BHP Billiton’s purchasing plan for stable procurement of material and Chinese issue, which exchange information for their domestic economy, steel market or international steel trade. EU adverted in February that the metal industry should deal with the problem of global warming when the industry is resources and energy-intensive industry. Especially, EU strongly anticipated carbon linkage which metal industries remove to loose regulated country, which chalked up to need response. EU is likely to verify sectoral approach.