Chinese chamber seeks to settle US trade friction

BEIJING - A chamber of commerce representing China's steel wheel manufacturers said on Monday they are seeking to resolve trade friction with US counterparts through negotiation and consultation while preparing for legal proceedings in response to a possible US probe.

On behalf of Chinese steel wheel makers, officials from China Chamber of Commerce of Imports and Exports of Machinery and Electronic Products said that they hope to negotiate directly with industrial representatives from the United States.

The Chinese chamber's request came after auto parts manufacturers in the United States petitioned US investigative agencies earlier this month to launch anti-dumping and countervailing probes into Chinese imports of steel wheels.

US Accuride and Hayes Lemmerz International Inc appealed on March 31 to the United States International Trade Commission (USITC) and Department of Commerce (DOC) against the import of steel wheels from China.

The two US companies wanted anti-dumping and anti-subsidy investigations into these products.

The DOC will decide whether to start the probe process on April 19, while the USITC will hold a hearing on the initial damages related to the case.

"As the representative of Chinese steel wheel exporters, we resolutely oppose trade protectionism in any form, and we will actively help enterprises cope with the case," said Chang Zhong, a spokesman for the chamber.

After the US firms' petition, the Chinese chamber and the China Association of Automobile Manufacturers (CAAM) convened an industrial meeting for 16 Chinese steel wheel makers to discuss ways to respond to the US allegations.

As China's auto parts industry grows, some manufacturers are now reaching first-class international standards. However, some foreign companies frequently resort to trade remedy measures to restrict China's exporters because they can not prevail in normal commercial competition, Chang said.

China's steel wheel producers have been subject to anti-dumping investigations by South Africa, India, Australia and the European Union in the past.

If the DOC and USITC support the US companies' petition, it will be the first anti-dumping and countervailing investigation against China's machinery and electronic industry by the United States since 2009.