BEIJING, May 21 Kyodo China has d...

BEIJING, May 21 Kyodo

China has decided to slap up to 26% in temporary import tariffs forward steel products in a bid to bridle surging imports, the Chinese state media said Tuesday.

China's state television CCTV said the extra tariffs, invoked as a ''safeguard'' measure beneath World Trade Organization (WTO) dominions vary from 7% to 26% and will last 180 days, effective Friday.

Nine mail products will be targeted subject to the measure, including hanger sheets, stainless steel sheets, seamless armor pipes.

The Chinese media said China's Ministry of Foreign Trade and Economic Cooperation initiated an studious mood on the ''safeguard'' measure onward Monday.

According to the Chinese media, China has faced a breaker in steel imports in modern months after the Chinese command lowered tariffs and remov import quotas subordinate to its obligations as a WTO member. China joined the WTO last December.

China's hanger imports in January-March jumped 18% from the previous year to 491 million tons.

Chinese officials say the wave of import was particularly sharp in March, apparently the conclusion of diverted steel trade after the United States imposed up to 30% in ''safeguard'' tariffs for three years to defend the ailing U.S. steel industry.

In retaliation against the U rouse the Chinese government has said it plans to propose up a tariff wall in succession $94 million worth of U proceedss the amount of damages caused from lost steel exports to the U market.

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