Wang Shichun, head of MOFTEC's Fair Trade Bureau for Imports and Exports, told the first national conference on a fair import and export trade that since last November, MOFTEC has dealt with seven anti-dumping investigation cases, a figure much higher than in past years.

Statistics show that China's anti-dumping suits against imported products have greatly increased. Four or five years ago the government conducted only limited investigations because it lacked the experience to be aware of the need for self-protection.

According to Wang, after a five-year exploration, China has established an anti-dumping lawsuit investigation system in line with its conditions. Last November, MOFTEC set up the Fair Trade Bureau for Imports and Exports and this move promoted work in the field of anti-dumping applications and investigations.

Of the 19 lawsuits against foreign goods, six have had final judgments, with anti-dumping taxes of between 4 and 78 percent being imposed on the goods under investigation which covered products from chemicals, chemical fiber, steel, paper-making, and light industries. Imports worth more than 5.2 billion U.S. dollars were involved in these cases.

China has so far investigated 20 countries and regions for dumping, including the U.S., Canada, the European Union and its members, Japan, the ROK and Russia. The ROK has been involved in 15 cases, Japan in nine, the U.S. in seven and Russia in 5.

Wang noted that with China's implementation of rules for anti-dumping, anti-subsidies and protective measures, more and more domestic enterprises have realized the importance of using WTO rules to protect themselves. MOFTEC is currently investigating applications sent by 60 enterprises querying foreign goods which may have been dumped in China. In addition, a business association has also made applications on behalf of its 400 members.

Since November 2001, MOFTEC has received about 12 applications for anti-dumping suits, more than the total of the previous four years.

Wang said that in the coming years, the number of anti-dumping lawsuits against overseas goods will increase, more industries and products will be involved, and investigations will become more complicated.

Wang stressed that China opposes the abuse of anti-dumping, and the government will firmly abide by the anti-dumping rules and other domestic laws and rules when dealing with applications and when investigating cases. It aims to maintain a fair competitive environment for imports and exports, and to properly protect the legal rights and interests of domestic industries.