The investigation application was jointly submitted by China Iron & Steel Association, Shanghai Baosteel Group Corporation, Anshan Iron & Steel Group Corporation, Wuhan Iron & Steel Group Corporation, Shougang Group, and Handan Iron & Steel Group Corporation.

And altogether 11 kinds of steel products, such as ordinary steel sheets, stainless steel sheet, seamless tube and steel billet, will be involved in the investigation, which will be concluded before November 20 or prolonged for two months under special situation.

The main contents of the investigation are as follows: the absolute and relative growth speeds and quantities of the investigated products; the increased share of the investigated steel products in domestic market; the influences on domestic iron & steel industry as to its output, sales, market share, rate in production, utilization of facilities, profit and loss and employment and other factors. In addition, to the products that seriously damage domestic industry, further investigations will be launched on the exporters' production capability, export capability, storage, and possibility of increasing exportation to China.

(People's Daily June 1, 2002)