The European Union says it has formally launched a complaint against China at the World Trade Organization, after China imposed anti-dumping duties on imports of stainless steel tubes.

The EU says it believes the anti-dumping duties are incompatible with WTO law, both on procedural and on substantive grounds. It says the duties of 9.7 percent to 11.1 percent imposed on European products are significantly hampering access to the Chinese market. It also sets the clock ticking on the WTO’s legal process, which gives China up to 60 days to hold talks with the EU to try and deal with its complaint.

China’s steel industry accounts for half of the world’s production. China first announced the plan to impose the duties in September 2011, just weeks after the EU slapped similar duties on Chinese-made stainless steel pipes and tubes.