Anti-dumping charges against Chinese manufacturers by overseas countries totaled 500 by the end of 2002, costing China dozens of billions in lost export revenues, a trade official said on Saturday.

Wang Qinhua, chief of the Bureau of Industry Injury of Investigation of China's Ministry of Commerce, said the number of anti-dumping cases against China accounts for 14 percent of the world's total, ranking first in the world.

The official said trade protectionism through anti-dumping suits around the world is growing, exerting new pressure on China's foreign trade.

Anti-dumping moves against China have become one of the major obstacles to the development of China's foreign trade, the official told a forum on the sidelines of China Beijing International Science and Technology Industrial Expo, which runs during Sept. 12-15.

The number of anti-dumping cases lodged by overseas countries against Chinese manufacturers reached 55 in 2001, a record high, and the figure stood at 47 in 2002, the official said.

The official said China will make better use of the trade dispute mechanism of the World Trade Organization to protect the interests and rights of Chinese firms.

China has registered a total of 25 anti-dumping cases against overseas producers since 1997, when it issued its regulation on anti-dumping and subsidies.  

(Xinhua News Agency September 15, 2003)