The European Commission on Wednesday launched an investigation into the possible circumvention of antidumping measures imposed on imports of steel rope and cable manufactured in China.

The commission said there is sufficient evidence that antidumping measures imposed by the European Union on imports of Chinese steel rope and cables are being circumvented through trans-shipments via South Korea and Malaysia.

The commission has nine months to conclude its investigation. It said if the results reveal circumvention, appropriate duties can be retroactively levied on the imports.

The EU in August 1999 began imposing antidumping duties of up to 60.4 percent on steel rope and cable imports originating in China and several other countries. It decided in November 2005 to continue the duties.

Faced with the worst economic crisis in decades, the EU recently has initiated a series of antidumping measures against China, which has raised protectionism concerns.

The Chinese Ministry of Commerce has warned that China consistently opposes any abuse of antidumping actions and a rise of protectionism.

(Xinhua News Agency August 13, 2009)