BRUSSELS: The European Union (EU) put antidumping duties on Chinese-made candles and non-alloy steel products on Saturday, approving an earlier flagged move as leaders at the Group of 20 (G20) summit called for countries to avoid trade protectionism.

Import tariffs of up to 60% will be slapped on Chinese candles which accounted for 300 million euros (US$380.6mil) of the EU market, worth 810 million euros in 2007. Extra duties of up to 50% would also be placed on non-alloy steel wire products from China for the next six months, the EU’s Official Journal said.

The decision comes as G20 leaders discuss a draft communique which asks countries to resist rising protectionist pressures in response to the global economic downturn and focus on reviving stalled world trade talks aimed at reducing trade barriers.

The EU’s trade chief Catherine Ashton has also repeatedly called for countries to avoid a repeat of the upsurge in protectionism which followed the Great Depression. But a spokesman for Ashton said the European Commission, which oversees trade policy in the 27-nation bloc, “is obliged to act when antidumping investigations show instances of unfair trade”.

According to the Official Journal, Chinese candles and non-alloy steel wire rods were being “dumped” in the EU exported at a price less than the price charged in its home market or below the costs of production. — Reuters

Brussels launched its probe after complaints from European producers who said they were being hurt by Chinese exporters getting an unfair edge because of export aid, cheap raw material and illegal pricing which has led to a trade deficit with China which ballooned to 160 billion euros in 2007. — Reuters