US accusations about plywood exports subsidies 'unjustified': China

BEIJING - Ministry of Commerce (MOC) on Thursday said US accusations that China is subsidizing plywood exports are abuses of policies.

"The US Department of Commerce ignored the active cooperation of the Chinese firms in its preliminary determination," said Sun Jiwen, spokesperson of the MOC, at a press conference.

The remarks came in the wake of a preliminary determination made by the US Department of Commerce on April 18 in an investigation of imports of China's plywood products, with the calculated preliminary subsidy rates ranging from 9.89 percent to 111.09 percent.

The US Commerce Department has miscalculated the rates and applied "Adverse Facts Available" without giving Chinese firms sufficient access for plea and response, according to Sun.

"Chinese firms have expressed strong dissatisfaction about US infringement of their interests," said Sun.

Sun urged the US government to strictly follow WTO rules and investigation procedures, and cautiously apply trade remedy measures.

The US government has announced tightened enforcement of duties against subsidies earlier this year.