BRUSSELS, Aug 14 (Reuters) - The European Commission has opened an investigation into the alleged dumping of aluminium road wheels in the European market by Chinese manufacturers, the official journal of the EU said on Thursday.
The probe follows complaints from the Association of European Wheel Manufacturers (EUWA) in June this year. The body alleged that imports of certain aluminium road wheels used in motor vehicles were being dumped in the EU market.
"Having determined that there is sufficient evidence to justify the initiation of a proceeding, the Commission hereby initiates an investigation," the journal of the executive arm of the 27-nation European Union said. China's Ministry of Commerce denied the charges and said on Friday that the investigation was not in line with World Trade Organization (WTO) rules.
"The anti-dumping investigation adds uncertainty to the market and raises the procurement costs of European automobile manufacturers," China's Commerce Ministry spokesman Yao Jian said.
"It raises the cost of repairs for customers, affects the recovery of the European auto sector from the global financial crisis, and hurts the interests of both China and Europe" Yao said in a statement on the Ministry's website. (Reporting by Bate Felix in Brussels and Lucy Hornby in Beijing, editing by Anthony Barker)