China’s Vice Premier Ma Kai insisted in Brussels on Tuesday that his country leading in its production of steel.
He said this amid long-running criticism from the European Union that Beijing is dumping cheap steel on the international market.
Ma made this known after talks with the European Commission adding that over-capacity was a global problem exacerbated by the financial crisis.
“Trade protectionist measures will not represent a solution,”he said.
The commission is currently drafting anti-dumping proposals ahead of an EU summit on Friday, during which the heads of its member states are to discuss the issue.
European Commission Vice President Jyrki Katainen stressed that the bloc would pursue a free yet fair market.
“If there are dumping or subsidised prices in the market, then we cannot talk about free trade,” he said. (dpa/NAN)