MEXICO CITY — Mexico’s steelmakers must stand together to defend the industry against unfair trade practices from China, India, Russia, Singapore and South Korea, according to the vice president of Latin American steel association Alacero.

Such nations "have strong support from their governments that we do not have here, (which) prevents us (from) competing on an equal footing," warned Raúl Gutiérrez Muguerza, speaking in Mexico City recently.

Gutiérrez Muguerza, who is also general manager of Mexican long steel producer Deacero SA de CV, said that "this irrational and dogmatic trade openness has to stop."

Gutiérrez Muguerza recently asked Enrique Peña Nieto, who was sworn in as Mexico’s president Dec. 1, to create a new industrial policy. Such a policy "must raise local content and add value to our exports" and encourage further industrialization, he said.

A version of this article was first published by AMM sister publication Steel First.