The Chinese government on Monday requested the World Trade Organization (WTO) to establish an expert panel to investigate whether the European Union's anti-dumping measures on Chinese-made fasteners violate trade rules.

The Chinese mission to the WTO has sent a letter to the chairman of the WTO's Dispute Settlement Body, requesting for the establishment of the panel, the mission said in a statement.

The expert panel, once set up, needs at least half a year to issue a final ruling on the dispute.

China initiated the WTO case on July 31, saying anti-dumping measures taken by the EU against the import of Chinese iron or steel fasteners violate WTO trade regulations.

Pursuant to the WTO's dispute settlement procedure, China and the EU conducted consultations on the dispute in Geneva on September 14, but the consultations failed to lead to a satisfactory resolution of the matter, according to the Chinese mission statement.

"The Chinese government opposes firmly to any abuse of trade remedy measures and any promotion of trade protectionism," the statement quoted an unnamed official of the Ministry of Commerce as saying.

In face of the challenge encountered by the global economy and at the juncture of recovery, the EU should "give a right signal of ensuring fair trade to the governments and industries in the world," the official said.

"The Chinese government is determined with confidence to safeguard legitimate interests of Chinese industries and to build up a health trade environment," he added.

(Xinhua News Agency October 13, 2009)