China complains of protectionism

TIANJIN, China, Nov. 8 (UPI) -- China says rising trade protectionism resulting from the global financial crisis has led to a big jump in the number of anti-trade cases filed against it.

Chinese Commerce Ministry spokesman Yao Jian said 19 economies launched 88 investigations into Chinese products in the first nine months of this year, affecting $10.2 billion of its exports, the state-run Xinhua news agency reported.

The 88 cases against Chinese products included 57 cases of anti-dumping, nine cases of anti-subsidy, 15 cases of safeguard actions and seven cases of special protection, Yao said. He said some of the countries and regions, in efforts to speed up economic recovery, also sought to expand exports after failing to stimulate domestic demand by depreciating their currencies and raising subsidies.

"Such moves lead to the rising trade protectionism," Yao told a forum on international trade development in the port city of Tianjin near Beijing.

Yao said trade disputes with the United States are increasing, with Washington launching 14 investigations against Chinese exports in the first nine months of this year.

In the latest case, the United States last Thursday slapped anti-dumping duties on Chinese-made oil steel pipe exports worth about $3.2 billion.