China is strongly concerned over the recent support measures suggested by the US International Trade Commission (USITC) in the 201 steel case. The USITC published the suggested measures concerning imported steel products based on Section 201 on December 7, which will be referred to President Bush soon, said Gao Yan, spokeswoman of the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Trade and Economic Cooperation (MOFTEC) Thursday in Beijing.

Gao pointed out that most of the USITC members suggested to carry on the high import duty and tariff quota on the steel products under investigation, which have lasted four years already. The Chinese government is very concerned about this suggestion and the possible result of the 201 investigation.

According to Gao, the Chinese side holds that the USITC suggestion will bar the steel products of other countries from entering the US market.

Such a barrier would run counter to the policy of trade liberalization advocated by the World Trade Organization, and it will not only influence the stability of international trade order under the present conditions of slowed world economic development, but also harm the healthy growth of the US steel enterprises in international competition, said Gao.

On June 28 this year, the USITC started to investigate four steel products imported from countries and regions including China. The four steel products are carbon-alloy steel bars, carbon-alloy steel plates, carbon-alloy steel tubes and stainless alloy tool steel.

The investigation was carried out according to the Section 201 of the US 1974 international trade law, aiming to determine whether the imported products would threaten or harm the relevant US domestic industries.

Gao noted that China has always objected any form of trade protectionism, and is unwilling to see the normal international trade disturbed by improper trade policies and measures. She added that the Chinese government will closely follow the issue, and said that she hoped that the US side would further consider the stances of China and other countries, and handle the issue properly.

China was seriously concerned about the US investigation of China's steel products even before the latest development, it is learned.

( December 14, 2001)