China expresses concern on EU's new prior-surveillance system for steel imports

Trade protectionism measures would do no help to tackle global steel overcapacity but hinder global trade orders, China's Ministry of Commerce (MOC) said in a statement after the European Union (EU) adopted new prior-surveillance system for steel imports.

The prior-surveillance system will bring extra burdens to normal trade and China is concerned about this matter, said the statement.

The EU announced on Friday 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, such as China, have jeopardized its own labor market.

China always advocates anti-trade protectionism and maintains stable, predictable and fair trade environment, said the MOC statement, adding that the EU should abide by the commitments it has made and avoid sending wrong signals.