China extends anti-dumping duties on synthetic rubber

BEIJING May 9 (Reuters) - China said on Monday it would extend for five years existing anti-dumping duties on a type of synthetic rubber imported from Japan, the European Union and the United States.

China's Ministry of Commerce said duties on imported neoprene, originally imposed in 2005, were still required to protect Chinese producers of the flexible synthetic material used in laptop sleeves, orthopaedic braces and fan belts.

"If the original anti-dumping duties were terminated, dumping of neoprene produced in Japan, the U.S. and the EU could possibly continue, and once again damage domestic producers," the notice on the ministry's website (mofcom.gov.cn) said.

Domestic Chinese producers asked the ministry to review and extend the duties before the original measures were set to expire in May 2010.

That review ended with Monday's announcement that the duties would be extended for another five years, beginning on May 10, the notice said.

Trade disputes are likely to feature at the annual U.S.-China Strategic and Economic Dialogue, set to begin in Washington on Monday. Chinese officials will then travel to Europe for China-EU talks.

China's Commerce Ministry said last week that some U.S.-made passenger cars benefited from unfair subsidies. [ID:nN0599167]

Beijing delayed a decision on whether to impose duties in that case, a move that could ease fractious U.S.-China relations ahead of the talks. (Reporting by Michael Martina; Editing by Ken Wills)