EU opens anti-dumping probe into Chinese paper

(BRUSSELS) - The EU Commission took fresh aim Thursday at Chinese goods on the European market, opening an anti-dumping probe into imports of fine art paper.

The new procedure, announced in the EU's official journal, follows a complaint from the European association of fine paper manufacturers, CEPIFINE, who provided evidence it said showed Chinese goods were coming in at artificially low prices due in part to China's status as a "non-market economy country."

The result, the complainant maintained, has "substantial adverse effects" on businesses operated by CEPFINE members.

The products in question are coated fine paper in sheets or rolls.

The commission, the EU's executive arm, now has 15 months to establish whether Chinese paper imports are being offered at artificially low prices, and could impose anti-dumping taxes.

The United States decided three years ago to impose anti-dumping penalties on Chinese paper imports.

China firmly opposed the US anti-dumping probes, taking the matter to the World Trade Organisation.

The European Union has already imposed anti-dumping levies on a series of Chinese products from candles to steel products.

Earlier this month the European Commission defended its penalty taxes on Chinese leather shoe imports as "the right thing to do" after Beijing lodged a complaint with the WTO.

China and the EU