Trade measures signal more active response

The government announced on Wednesday that it would slap anti-subsidy duties of up to 31 percent on chicken products from the United States - the move coming hot on the heels of a series of such cases initiated against the US during the past two weeks.

The Ministry of Commerce (MOC) ruled that broiler chicken products were subsidized by the US government, citing the results of an anti-dumping investigation initiated last September.

The US is the largest chicken products exporter to China, accounting for 90 percent of the 407,000 tons China imported in the first half of last year.

The rising frequency of such cases indicates that China is not shying away from initiating remedies in response to growing US trade protectionism, analysts said.

They suggest that China's "symbolic" measures - in line with rules and regulations of the World Trade Organization (WTO) - could undermine the Barack Obama administration's efforts to double exports within five years.

The latest measure came weeks before the Strategic and Economic Dialogue between the two countries, during which the value of China's currency is expected to top the agenda.

"It is notable that China has become more active and aggressive in counteracting US protectionism in line with WTO rules," said Fu Donghui, managing partner of Everbright Law Firm Beijing.

Last Thursday, the government started a 12-month anti-dumping investigation into imports of some optical fiber and chemical products from the US and the European Union. The same day, the MOC announced punitive anti-dumping duties on imports of"Nylon 6" from the US, the EU and Russia as well as the Taiwan region.


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