The Yantian container terminal in Shenzhen, South China’s Guangdong Province, presents a busy scene on Wednesday. The port handled 3.67 million standard containers (20-foot equivalent units) in the first quarter, up 45.9 percent year-on-year, official data showed. Photo: cnsphoto

 
China's trade relationship with its major trade partners has seen a positive trend in the first five months of the year, including with the EU and the US, thanks to rising demand and the resilience of China's bilateral business relationships with its major trade partners, Gao Feng, spokesperson for the Ministry of Commerce (MOFCOM), said on Thursday.

Gao also said that China has received consultation requests from Japan on the dispute over steel imports. The anti-dumping investigations into stainless steel imported from Japan were initiated by MOFCOM after receiving applications from domestic industries. 

"During the investigation, the investigating agency protects the rights of all parties and gives all parties ample opportunities to participate in the investigation," Gao said. "Based on the findings of the investigation, appropriate trade remedy measures were taken. China is regretful about Japan's request for consultation and will properly handle it in accordance with the WTO's terminal settlement procedures."

Gao added that the Chinese government has always firmly upheld the multilateral trading mechanism, and has managed foreign trade in a manner consistent with WTO regulations. Gao said that China will properly handle relevant cases in accordance with WTO dispute settlement procedures.

Global Times