China probes EU chemical imports before trade talks

China's commerce ministry launched an anti-dumping investigation on Saturday into European Union imports of p-nitrotoluene, a chemical used in dyes, pharmaceuticals and pesticides.

A ministry spokesperson said China's domestic industry requested the investigation into whether low-priced EU imports were flooding the Chinese market and damaging production and operations.

The move came less than a week before EU trade commissioner Maros Sefcovic and Chinese commerce minister Wang Wentao were due to hold talks in Beijing on Thursday.

The ministry said the investigation would conclude within 12 months, with the possibility of a six-month extension.

Trade tensions between Beijing and Brussels have grown as the EU seeks to protect industries from Chinese exports that critics say are supported by large subsidies. Beijing rejects that its manufacturers' competitiveness is based on state support and has threatened countermeasures against EU restrictions on its firms.

In September, the EU began an investigation into polyvinyl chloride imports from countries including China.