October 09, 2007	Tuesday	Ramazan 26, 1428

BERLIN, Oct 8: The European Union is prepared to take defensive measures to ensure fair competition, the EU Industry Commissioner and Commission Vice President said on Monday, speaking at the IISI annual steel conference.

“”We will continue to fight for free trade and open markets. But we will defend our European interests in a strong and vigorous manner,” Guenter Verheugen told the conference, held in Berlin.

The European steel association Eurofer is preparing to file as early as this month an anti-dumping complaint against China with the European Commission based on its allegations that the country’s steelmakers are exporting at prices below production costs.“If our competitors use unfair trade practices, they should be aware that we will use our trade defence implements,” he continued, adding this was a “normal use of our rights”.

A Brussels report says Experts from the European Union and China will carry out a joint study aimed at helping speed up economic growth in the poorest Chinese regions, the EU Commission said on Monday.

The study, to be carried out by 16 Chinese and 10 European experts, is the first action under the framework of the EU China memorandum of understanding, signed last year, according to the EU’s executive arm.—AFP