China sees more trade remedy probes in 2014

BEIJING - Chinese products were targeted by more trade probes in 2014, partially as a result of rising trade protectionism, an official of the Ministry of Commerce (MOC) said Thursday.

Twenty-two countries or regions initiated 97 investigations targeting Chinese products, compared to 92 in 2013, MOC spokesman Shen Danyang said at a press conference.

The 61 anti-dumping, 14 anti-subsidy investigations and 22 safeguard measures involved $10.49 billion, according to Shen.

Shen attributed the trade friction in part to rising trade protectionism amid weak global economic recovery. "Some major trade economies strengthened trade remedy investigations and boosted protection for domestic industries," he said.

High-tech products made by Chinese companies were regularly targeted by trade probes, including photovoltaic products, wind turbine generators, and mobile phones, according to Shen.

The spokesman expects the number of trade cases against Chinese-made products to stay at a relatively high level due to rising international protectionism and intensified competition in the domestic market.

However, increasing trade frictions should be seen as an "attendant phenomenon" of China becoming the world's largest goods trade country and the second largest economy, Shen said.

China will continue to stick to mutually beneficial and win-win principles and oppose trade protectionism, resorting to consultation and dialogue to solve disputes.