Protectionist forces get stronger

Rocky path to recovery in US and Europe prompts more investigations, ministry says

Trade investigations involving Chinese exports increased in the first half of this year, even as exports of the world's largest merchandise trader lost steam.

In the January-June period, 53 trade remedy investigations were launched against products from China in 18 foreign markets, up 20.4 percent from a year earlier. These investigations affected Chinese exports valued at $5.29 billion, up 136 percent, said the Ministry of Commerce.