The European Union will defend its duties on fasteners such as screws and bolts imported from China when the World Trade Organisation hears the country¡¯s complaint, the bloc¡¯s executive arm said on Monday. Skip related content
The 27-nation EU slapped the duties on certain iron and steel fasteners of up to 85 percent of their value in January, saying China was dumping them on the bloc¡¯s market, or selling them below the costs of production at home.
China challenged the decision at the Geneva-based WTO, but the EU said it had followed all rules on anti-dumping duties.
Governments and economists are closely monitoring the use of anti-dumping measures at a time when the economic crisis has raised the temptation of national protectionism.
"We regret that China has today asked for a WTO panel on EU anti-dumping measures on fasteners," Commission spokesman Lutz Guellner said in a statement.
"In all anti-dumping cases, the European Commission strictly follows the applicable EU rules which are in full compliance with the terms of the WTO Anti-Dumping Agreement," it said, adding the same applied for fasteners.