China should force India, US to stop protectionist measures

Beijing: China should put more pressure on India and the US to "force them" not to take trade protectionist measures against Chinese goods by imposing anti- dumping duties, state-run media here said.

"India has initiated 15 trade remedy investigations against Chinese products in the first eight months of the year, with observers forecasting even more probes in the foreseeable future," the Global Times reported.

Referring to reports that India's commerce ministry has recommended imposition of anti-dumping duties on imports of Chinese steel wire rods, the daily said in a recent article "it seems trade protectionism is rising in India as New Delhi looks to significantly expand its domestic steel sector, making China one of the biggest victims".

"The gradually increasing homogeneity of the two countries' economic structures has pushed up competition and economic friction, which has placed pressure on New Delhi to turn to protectionism in a bid to safeguard its nascent domestic industries," the article said.

"The US and India are the largest and second-largest source of trade remedy probes against Chinese goods, respectively. The Chinese authorities should put more pressure on Washington and New Delhi to force them to refrain from the rise of trade protectionist measures," it said.

China, the world's largest trader of goods, is an influential economic partner with both the US and India, it said.

"This position should give Beijing enough weight to carry out resolute countermeasures against any unfair treatment. China, one of those most impacted by trade protectionism, has no reason to keep itself out of the business," it said.

"As China faces rising trade remedy probes, work needs to be done to improve the country's quick-response ability. The authorities should strengthen communication between various government departments and shorten the decision-making process.

"Additionally, the government may need to consider providing subsidies to Chinese companies which suffer losses in trade remedy cases, in a bid to help increase their ability to make appropriate responses in the cases," it said.