China Starts Dumping Probes Into U.S. Optical Fiber, Chemical

(Bloomberg/Business Week)

China, the world’s biggest exporter, started two anti-dumping investigations today and levied tariffs on some nylon products, as it escalated trade spats with the U.S. and the European Union.

Probes were started on a type of optical fiber and caprolactam, a chemical compound, produced in the European Union and the U.S., the Ministry of Commerce said in two statements today. Dumping is the practice of selling goods at below costs.

China is swapping complaints with its two largest trading partners for goods ranging from footwear to tires to poultry, with the U.S. Commerce Ministry yesterday starting a probe into Chinese aluminum products. U.S. and European manufacturers have said the nation is undervaluing its currency, a policy that acts as a subsidy for its producers. Read more here.

Related: U.S. Sets Preliminary Penalties on Chinese Seamless Pipe (Xinhua)