(China Daily/Xinhua)
Updated: 2008-02-18 09:26

The European Commission said on Saturday it had launched anti-dumping investigations into candles and certain steel products imported from China.

Several European candle producers, including Germany's EIKA and the Netherlands' Bolsius, lodged a complaint to the commission on January 3, alleging that Chinese candles flooded the EU market and had a negative impact on the industry there.

"Having determined ... that the complaint has been lodged by or on behalf of the Community industry and that there is sufficient evidence to justify the initiation of a proceeding, the commission hereby initiates an investigation," the EU's executive arm said in its official journal.

The commission also announced the launch of an anti-dumping investigation into certain pre- and post-stressing wires and wire strands of non-alloy steel imported from China, upon a complaint lodged by the Eurostress Information Service on behalf of EU producers.

In the past two months, the European Commission has opened two anti-dumping investigations into Chinese steel, with one targeting certain hot-dipped metallic-coated iron or steel flat-rolled products, and the other concerning stainless steel cold-rolled flat products.

Both complaints were raised by the European Confederation of Iron and Steel Industries (Eurofer), a Brussels-based industry body representing major EU steel producers such as ArcelorMittal and ThyssenKrupp.

A third complaint by Eurofer against Chinese wire rod has not been decided by the commission.

European retailers such as Sweden's Ikea fear an increase in the price of candles, which they import in large volumes from China.

The commission's move on Chinese steel was also opposed by EU steel-consuming industries, such as engineering and shipbuilding.

EU anti-dumping investigations normally take no more than a year and must be completed within 15 months, after which EU governments have the final say on whether to impose definite anti-dumping duties for five years.

However, during the investigation period, the commission may, within 60 days to nine months, impose provisional duties, which may last for six to nine months.

Under EU rules, the commission must consult its member states - which look set to be divided on the issue - before taking provisional anti-dumping measures.