BEIJING, China - China says it will impose anti-dumping duties on two chemicals from the United States and European Union for five years.

The Ministry of Commerce said it ruled that U.S. and EU companies have been selling the chemicals at unfairly low prices, hurting China's domestic industry.

The two chemicals, ethylene glycol monobutyl ether and diethylene glycol monobutyl ether, are widely used in applications such as metal cleansing, paint stripping, dry cleaning and printing.

The ministry said in a statement Friday that it will impose a 10.6 per cent duty on those chemicals manufactured by American companies Equistar Chemicals LP and Eastman Chemical Co., and a 14.1 per cent duty on those made by Dow Chemical Co. and all other U.S. companies.

It said it will levy duties of 9.3 per cent to 18.8 per cent on the products from EU companies.

Trade disputes are common between China and its major trading partners, which often accuse Beijing of illegally subsidizing Chinese companies.

Beijing has blamed the weak global economy and protectionism for the disputes. It also has become more assertive in appealing anti-dumping measures against it and in bringing similar charges against its trading partners.

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