China asks India to follow WTO rules on anti-dumping probes

BEIJING: China, the world's top steel maker, today asked India not to resort to "trade protection measures" and will "strictly follow" WTO rules while investigating cases of dumping by Chinese iron and steel exporters.

An official with the Ministry of Commerce said that China always advocates prudent, restrained and lawful measures in employing trade remedy instruments.

He hoped that India would "strictly follow" World Trade Organisation (WTO) rules while investigating cases of dumping by Chinese iron and steel exporters.

Steel overcapacity is a worldwide problem which requires joint effort from all countries, the official was quoted as saying by the official Xinhua news agency.

"Trade protection measures could not solve the problem and will hinder normal international trade orders," the ministry said in a press release.

Since mid-April, India has successively conducted anti- dumping investigations against Chinese steel imports including hot-rolled steel coils and stainless steel plates, the report said.

"China always encourages its steel companies to tackle trade problems through cooperation with overseas competitors," the Chinese official said.