China announced on Saturday it will maintain anti-dumping measures against stainless, hot-rolled steel sheets imported from Japan and the Republic of Korea (ROK) for another five years.

According to an announcement from the Ministry of Commerce (MOC), the steel products are the same as those listed by China's foreign trade ministry in 2000 in its Bulletin No.15 with the agreement on price commitment still in effect.

The commerce ministry on April 8, 2005 said it would re-examine in the coming year whether the anti-dumping measures against steel products will be extended or canceled.

Following an investigation the ministry concluded that dumping of the products from the two countries may continue if the anti-dumping measures were terminated, and so damage to the domestic sector may take place again.

The ministry's recommendation to continue anti-dumping measures against the products will be forwarded to the tariff committee of the Chinese government, said the ministry.

In December 2000, the Ministry of Foreign Trade and Economic Cooperation (MOFTEC), the predecessor of the Ministry of Commerce, levied the anti-dumping tax against sheet steels from the ROK, with a term of five year.

According to relevant Chinese regulations, if the suspension of anti-dumping measures may lead to possible recurrence or continuity of dumping actions, the levy of anti-dumping taxes can be prolonged.

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