DOHA, Qatar — Protectionism will damage local steel industries and national economies in the long run, International Rebar Exporters and Producers Association (Irepas) chairman Ugur Dalbeler said March 4.

Countries only gain short-term benefits from regulations designed to protect local trade, Dalbeler said at the Irepas meeting and SteelOrbis conference in Doha.

"Protectionism only helps in the short term. In the long term, putting up walls doesn’t work and will only hurt our industry and economy," he said.

Dalbeler also said he intends to step down as chairman at the next Irepas event later this year.

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