Brussels, 16/05/2011 (Agence Europe) - Beijing responded on Monday 16 May to the EU's decision to impose anti-dumping and anti-subsidy taxes on imports of high-quality Chinese paper, in its announcement of additional customs duties on imports to China of starch from Europe.
The EU confirmed on Saturday 14 May that it intended to bring in anti-subsidy duty of between 4% and 12%, together with anti-dumping duty of between 8% and 35%, to Chinese coated paper, which provoked the ire of the Chinese authorities. “This decision seriously damages the interests of Chinese businesses”, a spokesperson to the Chinese Ministry of Trade commented immediately. “China is strongly opposed to this decision (…) and reserves the right to take measures to protect its legitimate rights and the interests of Chinese businesses”, he warned. Making good these threats, the Chinese authorities on Monday 16 May announced their intention of bringing in additional customs duties of between 7.7% and 11.19% on imports of starch from the EU. The Chinese trade minister stated in a press release that these taxes were not definitive and that the companies in question, notably Roquette of France and the Dutch Avebe, would have to pay a “bond” from 19 May, which they may be able to recover if Beijing went back on its decision. This new duty comes on top of anti-dumping taxes of between 12.6% and 56.7% put in place by China as of 19 April on imports of European starch, which are definitive and therefore cannot be recovered. (E.H./transl.fl)