Ericsson Doesn't Support EU's Chinese Anti-Dumping Probe

   By Gustav Sandstrom 
 

STOCKHOLM--Swedish network equipment vendor Ericsson (ERIC) doesn't support the European Union's planned investigation into Chinese exports of mobile telecom network products, the company said Wednesday.

"Ericsson is a strong supporter of free trade and we don't believe in this type of unilateral measure," Ulf Pehrsson, Head of Government and Industry Relations at Ericsson, said in a statement. "Our policy is for open, free and unrestricted trade and global supply chains, benefiting users and societies," he added.

A spokesman for the European Union earlier Wednesday said it will launch an investigation into China's activities in the export of mobile telecommunications network products.

But the spokesman, John Clancy, said the decision won't be acted on yet, to allow time for the EU authorities to start negotiations with China on the issue.

The investigation will be based on the grounds of suspicion that China is dumping and/or subsidizing products pertaining to mobile telecommunications networks. Mr. Clancy said the value of these products imported from China to the EU each year were about 1 billion euros ($1.30 billion).

Write to Gustav Sandstrom at [e-mail]

Subscribe to WSJ: http://online.wsj.com?mod=djnwires