China is expected to enforce a set of revised rules on the
investigation of trade barriers beginning Jan. 1, in order to
better protect its own trade interests.
An official with the fair trade bureau of the Ministry of Commerce said
the rules aim to prevent other countries from setting import
barriers.
He said the rules, based on provisional rules enforced since
Nov. 1, 2002, aims to conform with the rules of the World Trade
Organization. It enhances protection of the interests of the
applicants of investigation cases.
China launched an investigation of Japan's trade barriers
established over imports of laver, a kind of vegetable, from China
from April to October this year. This is the first trade barrier
investigation ever launched by China.
Experts predict more such investigations will be launched in the
future after the new rules take effect, ushering China into a new
period of active defense in trade.?
(Xinhua News Agency November 19, 2004)
