The Ministry of Commerce has slammed new tariffs imposed by the European Union on the country's steel exports, branding them 'unjustifiable protectionism'. New duties were slapped on Chinese steel rebars following a complaint by a European steel producers association, which accused China of steel dumping.

The duties, ranging from 18 point 4 to 22 point 5 per cent, were applied to Chinese steel rebars which are mainly used in reinforcing concrete. The ministry called the new tariffs an artificial obstacle and an exclusion of Chinese products. It also said the tariffs had been unfairly set to deliver higher profit margins for European producers. It's the latest development in an ongoing row between China and the EU over steel tariffs.

China has consistently denied charges of dumping. According to the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology, the country cut 13 million tons of excess crude steel capacity in the first half of 2016.