(BRUSSELS) - The European Commission opened on Thursday a new anti-dumping probe against Chinese imports on concerns that China's manufacturers were selling unfairly at below cost.

The investigation, which also includes imports from Turkey and Moldova, targets wire rod imports used to make such things as wire ropes, barbed wire, mesh, nails and springs.

"The investigation will determine whether the product concerned originating in the People's Republic of China, the Republic of Moldova and Turkey is being dumped and whether this dumping has caused injury," the EU's Official Journal said.

After nine months, the commission can decide on provisional anti-dumping measures if it finds necessary.

The probe follows a complaint from the Eurofer association of European steel producers, which said the EU market was being flooded because of overcapacity in the three countries caused by subsidies.

"We welcome the news that the preliminary analysis of the European Commission confirms that there is sufficient evidence, both in terms of dumping and injury caused to the European industry, to justify the initiation of a proceeding," Eurofer head Gordon Moffat said.

The commission already has anti-dumping probes underway into imports of Chinese-made steel cable, hot-dipped metallic coated products and stainless cold-rolled flat products.

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