Iron and steel are an important engineering and construction material that hold a significant position in economic development and social progress. Over the past few decades，the global trade of this industry has experienced rapid growth，with some countries emerging as major producers and exporters，such as China，Japan，South Korea，and the European Union. However，in recent years，the trade landscape has been constantly adjusting due to trade disputes and protectionist policies among nations，posing challenges and pressures on the industry. Additionally，environmental protection and climate change issues have presented new tests for the trade，prompting the industry to evolve towards more environmentally friendly and low-carbon production and trade practices. This report begins by analyzing the current status of global iron and steel trade in import and export. Then we examine the development patterns and characteristics of the trade in representative countries. Finally，a comprehensive analysis of the low-carbon development trends is provided. It is found that the global trade value of iron and steel declined significantly in 2016 and 2020，which was mainly affected by trade protectionism in 2016 and COVID-19 in 2020. The trade structure of countries in different regions of the world is different. Some countries are competitive in the international market due to their resource advantages，while other countries rely on their strong scientific and technological capabilities to have advantages in the production of iron and steel products. Based on the data of 30 countries from 2012 to 2019，our empirical results reveal that the increase of carbon emission intensity per unit of crude steel will inhibit the development of steel export trade，while the increase of the proportion of electric furnace steelmaking will be conducive to the development of steel export trade.