China questions EU tariffs on steel products

BEIJING - China seriously questions the anti-dumping survey methods and decision of the European Union (EU), which announced exorbitant tariffs on steel products from China, said a commerce official on Thursday.

The European Commission, the EU's executive body, announced Chinese exports of steel plate will be taxed with anti-dumping duties ranging from 65.1 percent to 73.7 percent for a five-year period on February 28.

China urges the EU to fully comply with international treaty obligations under the WTO, drop the surrogate country approach and treat Chinese enterprises in a fair, impartial and non-discriminatory manner, said Sun Jiwen, a spokesperson of the Ministry of Commerce at a press conference.

Sun reiterated China's serious concerns over the EU's slide into trade protectionism as well as the country's firm stance on safeguarding Chinese exporters' rights.

An anemic economic recovery and shrinking demand are the root causes of the plight facing global steelmakers, he said.

"It is groundless to blame Chinese exports for the current difficulties in the steel industry, and protective measures will not be conducive to the development of EU industry," he said.

Sun said Sino-EU steel trade is mutually beneficial as Chinese steel products facilitate the EU's infrastructure construction in times of crisis and benefit consumers and some companies.

China hopes the EU can conduct trade remedy investigations and apply trade restrictions in a prudent, restrained and normal way, strictly abide by the WTO rules, and implement trade-restricting measures in a fair, impartial and transparent manner, said Sun.