The European Union, China's No. 1 trade partner, has initiated the most anti-dumping probes against Chinese enterprises, an official with the Ministry of Commerce said on Monday.

So far, the EU has launched 127 anti-dumping probes into Chinese companies and intends to carry out more of them, said the official.

Last year, the EU launched a record 12 anti-dumping probes, up by 50 percent on the previous year.

China's exports of machinery and electronics products were seriously hampered because of the EU's enforcement of new regulations on importing electrical and electronic products, the ministry said in its news release.

China was subject to 86 anti-dumping and trade protection probes in 2006.

The investigations, involving a combined value of US$2.05 billion, included 63 cases of anti-dumping, two cases of alleged government subsidies, and 21 cases involving protectionist measures.

The investigations were launched by 25 countries and regions, and 48 cases reached adjudication in 2006, of which 21 ended with no measures taken.

Anti-dumping, anti-subsidy and trade protection probes are common trade defence instruments. Anti-dumping probes have become a regular event and have had a negative impact on the Chinese economy, the official said.

(Xinhua News Agency April 5, 2007)