The EU should consider the interests of importers, retailers and consumers as well as that of Chinese workers when planning to impose anti-dumping tariffs on China-made plastic bags, according to the Ministry of Commerce yesterday.

 

The EU should not neglect the overall development of bilateral trade, ministry spokesman Chong Quan said, adding that the decision should be made after "cautious" consideration.

 

The EU trade commission is planning to impose a 15.2 percent tariff on China-made plastic bags. A final decision is expected by the end of September.

 

By July 18, 107 Chinese producers had appealed the proposal. However, the commission will select only 10 for further investigation and decide whether to give them market economy treatment.

 

The other 97 producers will be subject to the new tariffs without the benefit of either an investigation or explanation.

 

Objecting to this, Chong stressed: "It goes against World Trade Organization's regulations on anti-dumping."

 

Chong said that plastic bags, one of China's major exports, provide many work opportunities in the world's most populous country.

 

The EU launched anti-dumping investigations on China-made plastic bags in June 30 last year, an exercise that involved more than 1,000 Chinese companies.

 

(Xinhua News Agency July 21, 2006)