The Argentine Production Ministry on Thursday announced new anti-dumping measures on table wares, polyester and textile thread imported from China.

The measures came after an anti-dumping investigation conducted by the ministry into negative effects of low-price Chinese tablewares on Argentine enterprises.

According to the measure, which is applicable for five years, the minimum custom value of the tablewares imported from China is set at 4.65 U.S. dollars.

In addition, the Argentine Production Ministry decided to impose four-month temporary anti-dumping measures on polyester and textile threads imported from Taiwan, India and Indonesia, as well as China.

Against the current backdrop of the global financial crisis, the Argentine government has reinforced restrictions on imported products. In the first eight months this year, Argentina registered a trade surplus of 12.33 billion dollars, up 44.8 percent, while imports decreased by 39 percent, far bigger than the 24-percent drop of exports.

China is Argentina's second largest trade partner and the largest market for agricultural exports. China has maintained a deficit position in trade with Argentina for most of the years from 1998 to 2007. Its total deficit over the 10 years was 13.8 billion U.S. dollars.

The Argentine government has adopted a series of measures to restrict imports since October 2008. Some Argentine entrepreneurs believe the protectionism will harm Argentina's economic development in the long term.

Source: Xinhua