Economy

EU opens anti-subsidy probe into Chinese wireless modems

(Xinhua)
Updated: 2010-09-16 17:38

BRUSSELS - The European Commission said Thursday it has opened an anti-subsidy investigation of wireless modems imported from China.

The action marked the first time that a single Chinese product simultaneously came under three types of trade investigation by the European Union.

The commission had already initiated an anti-dumping investigation and a safeguard measure probe into the Chinese modems in June.

The commission opened the anti-subsidy investigation after receiving a complaint in August by Belgium's Option, the sole maker of the wireless modems in the EU.

Option also was the complainant behind the other two probes.

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The commission has up to nine months to conclude its investigation and may decide on provisional measures.

It is up to the EU governments to decide whether to impose definite anti-dumping duties, usually lasting five years, in the following four months.

It was the second time that the EU opened an anti-subsidy probe into Chinese imports.

The first, concerning Chinese coated paper, was initiated in April. Legal experts said the simultaneous initiation of anti-dumping and anti-subsidy investigations may amount to double counting. A Chinese trade official has voiced concern over increased trade protectionism in the EU.