According to news reports, the government will instead rely on provincially enforced emissions standards as a means to keeping pollution in check. Last winter, the curtailments forced steel producers in China’s industrial north to cut production by as much as half. 

According to the (London) Financial Times, the decision comes amid signs that China’s economy is slowing. As a result, China’s government is easing environmental policies as a means to promote growth, analysts told the newspaper. 

Despiute the move, China warned industrial companies that there will be consequences if they violate emissions limits. 

“Pollution emitters must not take chances. ... They will still be shut down or be ordered to enforce capacity cuts if they exceed emission standards,” said China Ministry of Ecology and Enviornment spokesman Liu Youbi, according to Reuters.