Almost 15 percent of the world's antidumping charges have been filed against China, said Vice Minister of Commerce Yi Xiaozhun in Shanghai Wednesday at an international symposium on China's accession to the World Trade Organization (WTO).

 

International trade protectionism against China has been increasing rather than decreasing, said Yi, while appealing to developed countries to treat China objectively and fairly.

 

"They should not impose double standards when talking about the principle of free trade," he said.

 

China has been subject to the most antidumping investigations in the world for ten consecutive years, and each year about US$40 to 50 billion worth of exports are affected, figures from the ministry show.

 

China will defend the principle of free trade set by the WTO, and protect the legal interests of the country and its enterprises, Yi said.

 

China will continue to play a constructive role in formulating multilateral trade rules and push for global and regional free trade, he said.

 

So far China has submitted 67 proposals during the WTO Doha Round of talks. China regards the current suspension of the Doha Round as regrettable and has expressed willingness to work with all sides to resume the Doha Round which centers on international free trade.

 

(Xinhua News Agency September 7, 2006)