Agence France Presse: China launched a new steel group this week after merging four companies amid efforts to eliminate excess capacity, slash carbon emissions and strengthen the nation’s position in iron ore price talks. The four steelmakers in the northern port city of Tianjin have merged to create Tianjin Bohai Iron & Steel Group, Dow Jones Newswires reported late Wednesday, citing the local government. The steelmakers had a combined output of 21 million tonnes in 2009, making the new company …