In addition to showering the United States of America with cheap steel, the Chinese have been critical of the US Presidential elections and the fact that Donald Trump has emerged victorious. That said, one thing the Chinese cannot boast about is China''s complete lack of a democratic electoral system of its own.

I was watching a BBC television news report recently and was appalled to see how reporter John Sudworth was prevented from interviewing a potential candidate in China''s forthcoming nationwide ballot by what amounted to the heavy-handed tactics of Chinese thugs, clearly sympathetic towards the aims and objectives of ''the party''.

While there are many people in the USA, and elsewhere in the world, who doubt President-elect Trump''s credibility for the role of leader of the free world – and are worried for what the future might hold – one thing is undeniable: it was the result of a democratic process, fought out, in all its ugliness, in front of television cameras. It''s miles too early to pass judgement on Trump, although there are many who have spoken out about the sort of world a Trump presidency is likely to create.

The general consensus of opinion, however, is that Trump will be a ''no-nonsense'' President who will take no prisoners; and somebody strongly in favour of protecting the USA''s trade interests. Where anti-dumping and countervailing duties on imported steel are concerned, the USA has been far more aggressive than other regions of the world, notably Europe.

It is highly likely that ''the Donald'', as he is affectionately known, will intensify such activity, particularly when you consider that Dan Di Micco, former head of Nucor, is now Mr Trump''s senior trade advisor.

Speaking to The Economist, DiMicco said that the era of trade deficits is over. "It will be: let''s talk, but otherwise we put tariffs on," he said, and went on to praise Ronald Reagan''s 45% tariff on Japanese motorcycles in the 1980s. In DiMicco''s eyes, it''s all about bringing people to the negotiating table.

With DiMicco on-side for trade, Trump is highly likely to champion the US steel industry and, hopefully, revive its flagging fortunes, which many believe are caused by the dumping of cheap Chinese steel. With protectionism on the rise, however, the last thing we need is a trade war.

- The 18th China（Guangzhou）Int’l Sheet metal machinery,Forging, Stamping and Setting Equipment Exhibition