China's Ministry of Commerce voiced regret on Thursday over Australia's initiation of investigation into the alleged dumping and subsidizing of toilet paper imported from China.

Ministry spokesman Wang Xinpei said the government believed that the investigation was launched without adequate legal and factual support, and it failed to comply with World Trade Organization (WTO) regulations and the Australian criteria for an investigation, said Wang.

This was Australia's first anti-subsidy investigation into Chinese products.

Since the establishment of the WTO, Australia had launched seven anti-subsidy investigations, most against developed countries, said Wang.

The current investigation against China would send wrong signals to Australian industry and other WTO members, said Wang, adding that it would hurt the sustainable and steady development of bilateral trade.

He hoped the Australian authorities would carry out the investigation in strict accordance with WTO regulations and Australian law and in an impartial and transparent way.

Australia announced the initiation of its investigation on March 26 following a complaint filed by Kimberly-Clark Australia Pty Limited and SCA Hygiene Australasia Pty Ltd.

(Xinhua News Agency March 28, 2008)