During the most recent edition of the congress, participants commented on the importance of moving toward stronger integration in Latin America and called for modern trade defenses.
On November 11 and 12, Alacero Summit 2025 was held, bringing together companies from the steel industry to exchange views on the market. On this occasion, the event focused on markets and geopolitics, trade defense, and innovation.
One of the major recurring topics in all the presentations was the current global context and its implications for Latin America. During his presentation, Oliver Stuenkel, Professor at the Getulio Vargas Foundation and Harvard University, warned that, despite the region's geopolitical stability, this might not be enough in the face of tensions between the United States and China: “We must take advantage of the low geopolitical risk to strengthen industrial competitiveness,” he said.
Oliver Stuenkel
Meanwhile, Phillip Bell, President of the Steel Manufacturers Association pointed out that President Trump's foreign trade policy has focused on two pillars: the USMCA and Section 232 tariffs for national security. “These instruments often conflict with each other, because Section 232 not only affects bad actors like China, but also our largest trading partners: Canada and Mexico,” he said.
“It is critical to follow the development of the US-China relationship. There is a perception that there is openness to some form of deal with China, including investments in the US, which could have several effects on Latin America,” said Margaret Myers, Managing Director of the Johns Hopkins Institute for America, China and the Future of Global Affairs.
Margaret Myers
The data speaks for itself: in the last three years, Chinese steel imports in the region have increased by 54% and now account for 27% of Brazil's total imports. This has led to a reduction in regional prices and increased unfair competition, driven by energy subsidies and industrial incentives granted by the Chinese government.
“It is impossible to talk about steel without talking about China. There is an urgent need to discuss and explain to our governments the danger this represents for our countries’ industries. The export phenomenon must be stopped or it will end up catching up with us,” said Jorge Guajardo, former Mexican ambassador to China.
Jorge Guajardo
Salvador Quesada, General Director of CANACERO, emphasized that the problem is not limited to steel as a raw material: “Asian steel enters disguised in manufactured goods, components, and finished products. The common enemy is China's industrial policy,” he stressed. His call was clear: Latin America needs a joint strategy, with stricter rules of origin and common tariffs to prevent trade triangulation.
During the panel discussion “Global Steel Market Outlook,” Anthony de Carvalho, Head of the Steel Unit and Senior Economist at the OECD, emphasized that without coordinated action, global excess capacity will exceed 721 million tons by 2027, which could collapse the most vulnerable industries in the region.
Anthony de Carvalho
“The steel industry is crucial for Latin America, but it will only survive with fair competition. We must use the right information for decision-making and public policy creation,” he stressed. This echoed other speakers, who also urged participants to limit the Asian country’s advances and to take a leading role in decision-making.
The day ended with the “CEO Panel,” where Máximo Vedoya, the new President of Alacero, shared the stage with Jorge Ribeiro de Oliveira, his predecessor, President of ArcelorMittal Brazil and CEO of ArcelorMittal – Aceros Planos América Latina.
Jorge Ribeiro de Oliveira, former president of Alacero, with Máximo Vedoya, new president. In the center, Claudia Palacios.
Together, they reflected on Alacero´s role as a turning point between companies, governments, and multilateral organizations. More than ever, this relationship is becoming increasingly important in defending the industry's place in the global value chain.
Vedoya, meanwhile, expressed confidence in the region's industrial awakening: “Governments recognize the importance of industry in social mobility and in the growth of countries. Free trade is the way forward, but always in a fair manner,” he concluded.