Luo said as far as the association knows, the new measures are not in consideration period but instead will come out very soon.

   China cut rebates on steel export in 2006 in an effort to curb the export of resource-intensive products. But as the country's steel export surged to a record high in 2006 and maintained the growth momentum in the first two months of 2007, industry experts predicted that steel export rebates will be lowered further.

   China's quick steel export rises have become a part of the sources intensifying the country's trade frictions with other countries.

   Steel association officials from other countries who have attended the Guangzhou forum expressed their concerns over China's swelling steel export. Japan said China's export surge in 2006 has caused Japan to lose its title as the world's largest steel exporter for eight years in a row.

   European representatives said China exported more than 5 million tons of steel to Europe in 2006 and they hope the amount could be smaller in 2007.