Exporters 'to expect rising protectionism'

Trade investigations against Chinese goods especially from the US and the EU surged last year, but this year will be even worse creating "probably the most difficult period" for Chinese exporters, as they "deal with cases covering the widest range of sectors from a growing number of countries", Wei added.

Late last year, the US announced plans to impose punitive duties ranging from 18 to 250 percent on billions of yuan worth of Chinese solar products for the next five years. The EU also launched anti-subsidy and anti-dumping investigations into Chinese PV products.

Wei said other "high-tech, mechanical and electrical products and agricultural industries" are also likely to get involved in future "trade frictions".

He added: "Developed and developing nations are likely to initiate trade probes against Chinese goods", recommending that China should diversify its exports to more emerging markets including ASEAN and Africa, while at the same time increase its imports.

China has pledged to boost its domestic consumption as part of an economic transformation from 2011 to 2015, which will "help stimulate the nation's imports", Wei added.

Last year's call by the government for exporters to shift their attention to developing and emerging markets appears to be having an effect.

According to Customs figures, China's exports to the European Union last year dropped by 6.2 percent from a year earlier, and its shipment to Japan grew just 2.3 percent.

However, exports to ASEAN increased by 20.1 percent, to Russia by 13.2 percent, and to South Africa by 14.7 percent, way ahead of overall growth during the period.

As part of its efforts to continue diversifying its export destinations, China should push forward its FTA negotiations with some selected countries including South Korea, Australia and the Gulf Cooperation Council countries, Wei said.

dingqingfen@chinadaily.com.cn