China starts anti-dumping probe on Korean products

China's Foreign Economy and Trade Joint Venture Ministry announced Wednesday it would start an anti-dumping investigation on bichloride methyl (methylene chloride) imported from six countries, including Korea, the United States, the United Kingdom and France.

Samsung Fine Chemicals Co. exports 6000 tons of bichloride methyl, amounting to $3 million, to China annually. It is Korea's only exporter of this product.

The newsprint, stainless steel sheet and polyethylenephyl industries were investigated for dumping by China, making the probe of the bichloride methyl industry the fourth anti-dumping investigation of Korean products.

It is forecast that exports of some Korean products could be damaged, since China is reportedly planning to undertake anti-dumping investigations against around 10 imported products before it joins the World Trade Organization.