China remains at the top of the list of countries and customs territories subject to anti-dumping investigations and final measures during the first half of 2004, the World Trade Organization (WTO) said Monday.

The WTO listed 18 members as imposing a total of 52 new final anti-dumping measures against exports from 24 countries or customs territories during the six months.

The European Union, India and the United States imposed the most new final measures: six each. For India this is a large fall, from 21, but an increase for both the EU and US, of one and three respectively. Canada came a close second with five, followed by China, Peru and Turkey with four each.

Of all the final anti-dumping measures during the six months, 16 were against exports from China. This is only slightly down on the previous period, which saw 18. Trailing behind China were South Korea, Malaysia, Russia and Thailand, with three measures each on their exports.

Sixteen WTO members initiated 101 anti-dumping investigations against exports from a total of 23 different countries or customs territories during the first half of 2004.

The US initiated the most investigations, 21, while the EU and Turkey were second highest, with 13 each.

China reported 11 initiations, and received 23 investigations on its exports -- again, the most of all economies.

(Xinhua News Agency November 2, 2004)