Top Biz News

China hits EU imports with tariffs

By Jiang Wei (China Daily)
Updated: 2007-02-06 09:48

The commerce ministry launched an investigation last February covering all imports for 2005.

After a six-month investigation, the ministry decided last August to impose primary tariffs on imports from the European Union.

German, French and Dutch companies responded the charge.

"It is China's first dumping charge against an agricultural product," the ministry said in a statement on its website.

According to Zhou, the case will benefit millions of Chinese potato farmers in 12 provinces and autonomous regions, as the average potato price increased to 0.48 yuan per kilogram last year from 0.34 yuan in 2005.

An agricultural institution in Yunan Province said local farmers would have suffered losses of some 120 million yuan if the anti-dumping charge had not been imposed.

Zhou called on Chinese firms from other industries to defend their interests in accordance with World Trade Organization rules.

Chinese companies are subject to the most anti-dumping tariffs worldwide, yet seldom impose duties on foreign rivals.

Zhou said his commission was formed to handle the potato starch case and for "the whole industry in China united together".

(China Daily 02/06/2007 page14)