EC decides to end anti-dumping proceeding

The European Commission (EC) launched an investigation in last September.

It followed complaints over alleged injurious dumping from the defense committee of the stainless steel butt welding fittings industry.

But in a letter dated June 27 this year, the complaint was formally withdrawn which allowed the investigation to be terminated as per EU rules.

Trade frictions between China and the European Union intensified this year.

A report from the EC shows China has become the top target of the European Union's punitive trade measures in the first seven months of 2013.

All of the Union's four anti-dumping and anti-subsidy investigations from January 1 to July 31 were targeted against China.

The investigations covered products including seamless steel pipes, solar glass and agglomerated stone.

Meanwhile, five of the seven definitive duties imposed by the EU were against Chinese products ranging from steel products to kitchenware.

Europe is China's most important trading partner.

For the EU, China is second only to the United States.

Chinese exports of goods to the bloc totaled 290 billion euros last year, with 144 billion euros in European exports going to China.