HONG KONG (Reuters) -China is monitoring the progress of Mexico’s anti-dumping investigations into Chinese products and urges the country to abide by World Trade Organisation rules for the process, a Chinese Ministry of Commerce spokesperson said on Friday.
“We have noted that Mexico’s Ministry of Economy, at the request of domestic companies, has recently initiated four anti-dumping investigations against Chinese products such as float glass and PVC-coated fabric,” the spokesperson said in a statement published on the ministry’s website.
“China firmly opposes protectionist actions that harm the legitimate rights and interests of Chinese companies,” the spokesperson said, without identifying themselves.
Mexico has launched 11 anti-dumping investigations against Chinese products this year, almost double the number of cases filed last year, the spokesperson said.
“China believes that, in the current context of the U.S. abusing tariffs, all countries should jointly oppose unilateralism, prevent the spread of protectionism, and avoid imposing restrictions on China under various pretexts due to external pressure,” the spokesperson said.
China has also initiated a trade and investment barrier investigation on Mexico’s proposed tariff hikes and other trade and investment restrictions against China, the spokesperson said.
The Chinese commerce ministry initiated an anti-dumping investigation into pecans imported from the United States and Mexico last week, signalling more global trade tensions and increased friction with the two nations.
Mexico said in early September it would raise tariffs on automobiles from China and other Asian countries to 50%, in a broad overhaul of import levies the government said would protect jobs and analysts said was aimed at placating the United States.
(Reporting by the Hong Kong Newsroom; Editing by Christian Schmollinger)
