BEIJING, July 19 (Xinhua) -- A Chinese official has expressed concern about protectionism in view of increasing trade probes in the first half of the year.

"Protectionism is rising," Ministry of Commerce spokesperson Shen Danyang said during a routine press conference on Tuesday, citing a surge in trade remedy cases over Chinese products.

Seventeen countries and regions launched 65 investigations, mostly anti-dumping and anti-subsidy, against Chinese products, from January to June, up two thirds year on year, according to Shen.

Around 8.54 billion U.S. dollars' worth of goods were involved, up 156 percent from a year ago, said the spokesperson.

The United States, China's second-largest trade partner, filed 18 cases, followed by India with 15.

Trade remedy policies cannot help economic recovery and on the contrary have compounded already-sluggish global trade, Shen said, calling for concerted effort from the global community to weather the ongoing hardships.