A senior official from China's commerce ministry  slammed the European Union on Saturday for its decision to levy anti-dumping duties on two Chinese steel products.

"China is highly concerned about the trade remedy practices," the ministry official said, according to state-run Xinhua news agency. "It is not a right strategy for the EU to adopt protectionism and impede competition."

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Describing the move as "unfair," Beijing asked the European Union to guarantee the rights of Chinese companies.

"China has always insisted that nations should be cautious and restrained in using such measures, and has always promoted exchange and cooperation to solve friction," the official added.

On Friday, the European Commission imposed provisional anti-dumping duties on the imports of hot-rolled steel and heavy plates of steel from the largest Asian country.

The Commission noted in a statement that said Chinese products have been dumped in European countries at highly cheap rates.

"To provide EU companies with necessary breathing space, the Commission imposed duties ranging between 65.1 percent and 73.7 percent for heavy plates, and 13.2 percent and 22.6 percent for hot-rolled steel," it added.

The Commission also decided to review the situation after six months.

The Chinese commerce ministry estimates that Chinese steel products account for less than five percent of the European steel market. Despite that, several Chinese steel makers, including Jiangsu Shagang Group, Hebei Iron and Steel Group and Bengang Steel Plates, have been under anti-dumping investigation by the European Commission for imports of hot rolled steel from China.  

Tagschina, EU, Anti Dumping, Chinese Steel, European Union