The Chinese government is deeply concerned about the European Union's launching of temporary safeguard tariffs on steel products.
Minister of Foreign Trade and Economic Cooperation Shi Guangsheng expressed this concern Thursday in a letter to Pascal Lamy, trade member of the European Commission.
On Wednesday, the Commission decided to start a six-month temporary safeguard measure over steel imports.
According to the decision, starting from early April, EU will put tariff quota limitations on 15 kinds of steel imports, and levy safeguard tariffs of up to 14.9 percent to 26 percent on those exceeding the quotas.
China held that EU safeguard tariffs would severely affect China's steel exports to the EU, and severely damage Chinese enterprises. The Chinese government will hold consultations with the EU in a bid to find a solution, according to the minister.
(People's Daily March 29, 2002)
