China to support steel exports as U.S. imposes hefty tariffs

By Ruby Lian and David Lawder SHANGHAI/WASHINGTON (Reuters) - China said it would persist with controversial tax rebates to steel exporters to support the sector's painful restructuring, defying a United States move to impose punitive import duties on Chinese steel products. A worldwide steel glut has become a major trade irritant, with China under fire from global rivals who say it is dumping cheap exports after a slowdown in demand at home. In a marked escalation of the spat, the United States