China has become the world's number one target of anti-dumping and protectionist campaigns, People's Daily said. Since 1979, a total of 33 countries have initiated 544 investigations and taken action against 4,000 Chinese export products. In 2001, 17 countries filed a total of 67 cases against companies in China, 55 for allegedly dumping products at below-cost prices and 12 for selling products beyond agreed quotas. In 2002, following China's accession to the World Trade Organisation, 18 countries filed 60 complaints with the trade body, involving goods worth more than US$1bn.
The chief complainants were the US, with 14 complaints, and India, with 13. In addition, the EU banned drugs made from animal products that claimed to enhance male virility, causing losses to Chinese firms of US$623m. However, the newspaper concluded that China must accept the challenge of adjusting to the global environment.