The latest trade frictions between China and the European Union (EU) do not amount to a trade war, said Ministry of Commerce (MOC) spokesman Yao Jian on Tuesday.
It's not surprising for China and the EU to have trade disputes as the two sides have maintained large trade volumes over the past years, said Yao at a routine press release.
"For some products, there might be a lasting legal disputes. But the total dispute ratio will be very low between 1 to 3 percent," he said.
Yao's remarks came after the EU slapped its first-ever anti-subsidy and anti-dumping duties on coated fine paper imported from China and China found that EU members had subsidized domestic production of potato starch exported to China.
Yao reiterated China's protest against the EU's anti-subsidy decision on coated fine paper and questioned its practices to use evidence from a substitute country and reject information from Chinese enterprises.
As for the country's investigation into the potato starch from the EU, he explained that it was at the request of the China Starch Industry, which represents 98 percent of the industry's output.
"The investigation, which lasted two and a half months, was in line with China's laws and WTO rules. We also adopted data from the EU enterprises," he added.
The country said in an initial ruling that it will impose an anti-subsidy provision of the tariff on potato starch products imported from the EU effective from May 19, according to the MOC.
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It's not surprising for China and the EU to have trade disputes as the two sides have maintained large trade volumes over the past years, said Yao at a routine press release.
"For some products, there might be a lasting legal disputes. But the total dispute ratio will be very low between 1 to 3 percent," he said.
Yao's remarks came after the EU slapped its first-ever anti-subsidy and anti-dumping duties on coated fine paper imported from China and China found that EU members had subsidized domestic production of potato starch exported to China.
Yao reiterated China's protest against the EU's anti-subsidy decision on coated fine paper and questioned its practices to use evidence from a substitute country and reject information from Chinese enterprises.
As for the country's investigation into the potato starch from the EU, he explained that it was at the request of the China Starch Industry, which represents 98 percent of the industry's output.
"The investigation, which lasted two and a half months, was in line with China's laws and WTO rules. We also adopted data from the EU enterprises," he added.
The country said in an initial ruling that it will impose an anti-subsidy provision of the tariff on potato starch products imported from the EU effective from May 19, according to the MOC.
Weekly review May 12 No winners in U.S. hi-tech export controls May 12 China should view livelihood issues from strategic perspective May 11 Syria will not be another Libya May 06 Beijing-Shanghai high-speed railway to launch 10-day trial run May 14 The week in pictures May 11 2000-year-old wine unearthed in Henan province May 11 Scientist: China plans to build lunar research base May 09 Apple employee, customer reach settlement after Beijing iPad brawl May 12 Wenchuan Reconstruction: 'Chinese miracle' impresses world May 12 No winners in U.S. hi-tech export controls
