China Saturday asked the US to correct its "unfair decision" to impose high anti-dumping and countervailing duties on imports of Chinese stainless steel sheet and strip amid threats by President Donald Trump to hike tariffs against Chinese goods.
The US Department of Commerce on Thursday said it had determined that imports of Chinese stainless steel sheet and strip should be subject to anti-dumping duties from 63.86% to 76.64% and anti-subsidy duties from 75.6% to 190.71%, Outlook India reported.
"China is disappointed by a series of decisions by the US related to high anti-dumping and anti-subsidy duties on Chinese steel products and questions its unfair investigation methods," said Wang Hejun, head of the trade remedy and investigation bureau of the Chinese Ministry of Commerce.
The ministry in a statement said China urged the US to correct its unfair decision to impose high anti-dumping and countervailing duties on imports of Chinese stainless steel sheet and strip.
"The US has violated World Trade Organization rules by neglecting the abundant proof offered by Chinese companies and has treated them unfairly simply because of their state-owned-enterprise status," Wang said.
The root cause for current challenges facing the steel sector is the sluggish world economy and shrinking demand, which calls for global cooperation instead of protectionism, state-run Xinhua news agency quoted Wang as saying.
The US should abide by WTO rules and correct their unfair practices and China will take the necessary steps to protect due rights of Chinese enterprises, Wang added.
Last month, China protested the US move to impose anti-dumping duties of 162.47% for imports of amorphous silica fabric, 68.27% for carbon and alloy steel and 493.46% for ammonium sulfate from China.
The tariff hikes came as Trump during his campaign vowed that he will respond to China's "unfair" trade tactics by raising tariffs against Chinese goods, accusing Beijing of trying to reap more benefits of over $400 billion exports to US.
Trump threatened during his presidential campaign to label China a currency manipulator and impose up to 45% duties on Chinese imports.
Senior Chinese officials and top leaders have warned there would be no winners in a trade war between the superpowers. Beijing is preparing to retaliate if Trump launches a trade war, including trade investigations of US products, the American Chamber of Commerce in China said in January.
“US-China trade conflicts will exacerbate and gradually evolve into a trade war,” said Jin Baisong, a former researcher with the ministry of commerce.
“Trump pledged to reverse the US trade deficit against China and attract manufacturing to flow onshore to create more jobs. The US will seek every possible chance to challenge China in trade issues,” he said.
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