Beijing says sanctions threaten trade ties

Beijing is 'deeply concerned' about trade sanctions imposed by India in the past three months on Chinese-made exports and warned the moves would put bilateral relations in jeopardy.

A Ministry of Commerce spokesman said yesterday that Vice-Minister Zhong Shan relayed the mainland's concern to an Indian diplomat in Beijing during a meeting aimed at settling trade frictions.

Sino-Indian trade relations entered a difficult period in October when India launched 17 rounds of investigations covering issues such as anti-dumping duties and subsidies for Chinese-made goods. It also restricted imports of steel products, chemicals and textiles, and recently banned imports of Chinese toys.