The EU should consider the interests of importers, retailers and
consumers as well as that of Chinese workers when planning to
impose anti-dumping tariffs on China-made plastic bags, according
to the Ministry of Commerce yesterday.
The EU should not neglect the overall development of bilateral
trade, ministry spokesman Chong Quan said, adding that the decision
should be made after "cautious" consideration.
The EU trade commission is planning to impose a 15.2 percent
tariff on China-made plastic bags. A final decision is expected by
the end of September.
By July 18, 107 Chinese producers had appealed the proposal.
However, the commission will select only 10 for further
investigation and decide whether to give them market economy
treatment.
The other 97 producers will be subject to the new tariffs
without the benefit of either an investigation or explanation.
Objecting to this, Chong stressed: "It goes against World Trade
Organization's regulations on anti-dumping."
Chong said that plastic bags, one of China's major exports,
provide many work opportunities in the world's most populous
country.
The EU launched anti-dumping investigations on China-made
plastic bags in June 30 last year, an exercise that involved more
than 1,000 Chinese companies.
(Xinhua News Agency July 21, 2006)