China extends anti-dumping steel duties

BEIJING, Apr 8 (Reuters) China will extend anti-dumping duties on cold-rolled stainless steel sheets from Japan and South Korea for five years, the Commerce Ministry said on Saturday.

Lifting the anti-dumping duties, first levied in April 2000, would harm the interests of Chinese manufacturers and would prompt dumping of such products in the domestic market, the ministry said in a statement on its Web site (www.mofcom.gov.cn).

The decision to extend the duties came after the ministry submitted a proposal to the tariff regulatory commission under the State Council, the country's cabinet.

The move would be effective immediately, the statement said.

The duties would be levied at the same levels as previously, it said, without elaborating.

REUTERS CS HT1255