China concerned over EU's new system for steel imports

EU has set up a prior-surveillance system under which steel products can enter the bloc only if backed by import license

China has expressed concern over the European Union's move to adopt a new prior-surveillance system for steel imports saying trade protectionism measures would do no help to tackle global steel overcapacity but hinder global trade orders.

The prior-surveillance system will bring extra burdens to normal trade and China is concerned about this matter, Chinese Ministry of Commerce said in a statement.

The 28-member European Union (EU) announced yesterday that it had established a prior-surveillance system for imports of steel products into the bloc in order to further protect its own steel industry.

Based on the new regulation, imports of steel products into the EU will now need an import license.
 
The EU has long claimed that importing steel products from third countries, like China have jeopardised its own labour market.

China always advocates anti-trade protectionism and maintains stable, predictable and fair trade environment, state-run Xinhua news agency quoted the statement from the Ministry of Commerce as saying.

The EU should abide by the commitments it has made and avoid sending wrong signals, it said.