Paolo Rocca has chosen his camp in the “cold war” | The …

As part of your Historic trade dispute over pipe imports from China, the Argentinian and world king of steel, Paolo Rocca, spoke of the advantages of a trade war between Asia and the United States and even called it a “cold war”. Techint’s owner spoke at the Alacero 2020 Virtual Congress, where he avoided definitions of the local context but focused on one of his obsessions: the emerging global situation of the Chinese, their firm competitors with prices stockings for the sale of pipes for pipelines and works.

“Latin America had a very impressive deficit and although today it has a significant infrastructural deficit, a lack of capacity to export industrial products, a weakness in its value chain, today it has an opportunity. historical, in a context where China, an emerging power, faces the United States, a still dominant powerRocca explained.

He further added that “this conflict or competition or this cold war how it will work together over time marks our century. But in this context, the redefinition of the value chain, the redefinition of space, offers Latin America the opportunity to call for industrial development and a development of its integrated value chain in an important dynamic part. . I think today’s panel is addressing the issue of globalization, the relationship between the United States and China and the opportunity that this offers. In my view, industrial dynamics are inevitable for any country. ”

Rocca’s position is not new. He has a historic record of suggestions for protectionism for his business, and this protest takes place within hours of the change of president in the United States. When we do not yet know what will be the policy that the executive of Joe Biden will have for its relations with China. In addition, the message “industrialize the region” is read as a key to strengthening its activity in relation to imports.

In recent years, Rocca has had various battles with the Chinese. The most emblematic, a gas pipeline project in Cordoba, in which this government tried to buy Chinese pipes by price. It was in 2016, when the MP even came to ask Elisa Carrió. While chairing the Foreign Relations Committee, he said that “you know I hate Rocca, but the Chinese …”.

Prophecy Fulfilled

During his meeting with Alberto Fernández, Rocca had anticipated a recovery in his sector. In these hours, the Argentinian House of Steel confirmed leader Techint’s prophecy. In October, both rolled and crude steel shipments increased, driven by growth in private construction and the manufacturing of durable goods such as cars, farm machinery, electrical appliances and packaging.

The laminate production October was 392,500 tonnes, which was an increase of 21.4% from September (323,300 t) and just a decrease of 1.7% from the same month of 2019 (399,500 t). Meanwhile, crude steel production was 382,200 tonnes, 6.9% more than last September (357,600 t) and 0.1% more than in October 2019 (381,800 t).