TRADE disputes with China are mounting as global uncertainties put pressure on national economies.

Australia is starting an anti-dumping investigation over Chinese hollow steel pipes and the European Union has imposed a protectionist duty of between 26.3 percent and 69.7 percent on Chinese ceramic tiles, China's Ministry of Commerce said yesterday.

Last week, the EU also initiated a review to decide whether it should extend the anti-dumping tariff on Chinese chamois leather.

The disputes are not all one-way. On Friday, China imposed a countervailing duty of up to 12 percent on EU potato starch because of unfair domestic subsidies.

Xue Jun, a Citic Securities analyst, said: "A worsening global economic outlook, especially in the eurozone, is a source of more trade disputes. But protectionism will not help restore global economic health."

The EU Chamber of Commerce in China has suggested the EU should pursue a trade and investment treaty with China with the aim of establishing coordinated policies.

Trade disputes between China and the EU have escalating over the past year. In May, Europe imposed a duty of between 4 percent and 12 percent on Chinese copper plate. Last month, the EU extended duty on Chinese bicycles and bicycle parts for five years and raised the tariff.