14 December, 2007 – China has reacted angrily to US moves to launch a combined anti-dumping and anti anti-competitive investigation into Chinese-made sodium nitrate - a substance used as a preservative and colour fixative in meat and fish.
The latest anti dumping enquiry, initiated at the end of last month, was described by Chinese Ministry of Commerce official Wang Xinpei as “unwise and wrong”.
Wang said such disputes harm trade and should be resolved through “dialogue and consultation”.
Speaking yesterday, he said: "Trade protectionism is of no use. Such moves are unwise and wrong and have complicated economic and trade relations between China and the United States.
"They send the wrong signals to US industry and bring unnecessary pressure to both governments.”
Chinese exports of sodium nitrate to the US were, last year, worth US$170,000.