一路与挫折同行

航道处突发事件应对工作总结评估

FUZHOU/TAIPEI/HANGZHOU, Aug. 7 (Xinhua) -- A fishing boat capsized at about 10 p.m. off the coast of southern island province of Hainan as the tropical storm Goni wreak the havoc. All the 10 fishermen fall into the water and only one managed to swim to the beach.     Rescers were searching for the missing. Authorities in southeast China's Fujian Province has ordered all schools and scenic spots to close before 4 p.m. Friday, as typhoon Morakot nears. Photo taken on Aug. 7, 2009, shows the flooded areas in Danzhou, south China's Hainan Province. Strong rainstorms brought by the tropical storm Goni caused great disaster to the western Hainan areas and the villagers suffered a heavy loss    The Fujian provincial flood control and drought relief headquarters said Friday that about 34,000 vessels had been recalled to port and 21,190 people in the cities of Ningde, Putian, Fuzhou and Quanzhou had been relocated to safe areas.     The headquarters has entrusted the education bureau to notify schools in the four cities to stop all activities, and make sure all teachers and students leave safely. Residents living on the sea are evacuated to the safe place in Ningde City, southeast China's Fujian Province, on Aug. 7, 2009. Authorities in Fujian Province have ordered all schools and scenic spots to close before 4 p.m. Friday, as typhoon Morakot nears. The provincial flood control and drought relief headquarters said Friday that about 34,000 vessels had been recalled to port and 21,190 people in the cities of Ningde, Putian, Fuzhou and Quanzhou had been relocated to safe areas. Waves as high as six meters were already hitting the coastal area on Friday, and the provincial meteorological observatory said they could reach up to nine meters as the typhoon came closer.     According to China National Meteorological Center, Morakot, the eighth typhoon to affect China's mainland, was 180 km southeast of Keelung, Members of the Fujian border police hand over the supplies to crew members of a ship from Taiwan at Shacheng port in Ningde of southeast China's Fujian Province, Aug. 7, 2009. Led by a ship sent by the Fujian border police, two ships from Taiwan arrived at a port in Ningde safely on Friday as typhoon Morakot nears

ROME, Sept. 13 (Xinhua) -- China and EU agreed here Sunday to continue their dialogue in order to strengthen the important cooperation with each other.     Hua Jianmin, vice chairman of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress (NPC), or China's legislature, met with President of the European Parliament Jerzy Buzek in Rome, before attending a summit for parliament speakers of the Group of Eight (G8) and emerging economies on behalf of top Chinese legislator Wu Bangguo. Hua Jianmin (2nd R), vice chairman of the Standing Committee of China's National People's Congress, meets with President of European Parliament Jerzy Buzek in Rome, capital of Italy, Sept. 13, 2009.During the meeting, Hua said that as two major international forces, China and the EU to deepen mutual cooperation conforms to the fundamental interests of both sides. The NPC is willing to continue making dialogues with the European Parliament in order to strengthen the bilateral cooperation.     Hua believed that the two sides should continue enhancing Sino-EU comprehensive strategic partnership in order to have a better communication and cooperation in the international financial crisis, climate change and other aspects. Hua Jianmin (L), vice chairman of the Standing Committee of China's National People's Congress, meets with Italian Chamber of Deputies President Gianfranco Fini in Rome, capital of Italy, Sept. 12, 2009.Busek said that the relation with China is very important for the EU, and the European Parliament wants to engage in frank dialogue with the NPC to promote Sino-EU cooperation in all fields.     On Saturday in Rome Hua also met with Speaker of Chamber of Deputies of the Italian Parliament, Gianfranco Fini and Speaker of the National Assembly of the Republic of South Africa, Hon Max Vuyisile Sisulu.  Hua Jianmin (1st R), vice chairman of the Standing Committee of China's National People's Congress, meets with Speaker of the National Assembly of South Africa Max Sisulu in Rome, capital of Italy, Sept. 12, 2009

NANJING, Aug. 30 (Xinhua) -- China's chief justice Sunday urged the people's courts all over the country to attach great importance to the trial of major and serious criminal cases and timely handle them in strict accordance with the law.     Wang Shengjun, president of the Supreme People's Court, made the remark while attending a national workshop on hearing major and serious criminal cases held in Nanjing, capital of east China's Jiangsu Province.     Wang urged courts at various levels to be fully prepared for handling major and serious criminal cases, which is a heavy task at present and will be so in a certain period of time in the future.     Courts at all levels shall timely investigate and conclude major and serious criminal cases in accordance with the law to serve goals of safeguarding national security and social stability, Wang said.

浅水绿翡翠

BEIJING, Aug. 2 (Xinhua) -- China's economy would continue to recover from the world financial crisis in the latter half and expand at the rate of 8.5 percent for the whole year, said a report from the Bank of Communications on Sunday.     The country's economic development was expected to accelerate the pace and expand at 9 percent in the third quarter and 9.8 percent in the fourth quarter, according to the report.     The report indicated that the country would achieve the set goal of 8 percent economic growth for the full year，contributed by a robust domestic investment and consumption.     In the latter half, investment would represent fast increase, boosted by development from infrastructure construction, real estate, and the industrial sector, said the report.     China saw its economy growth slowed down amid the world financial crisis. Its gross domestic product grew 7.9 percent in the second quarter after sinking to 6.1 percent in the first three months.

MACAO, Sept. 22 (Xinhua) -- Macao Special Administrative Region(SAR) Legislative Election General Auditing Committee announced the official results of the election of the fourth Legislative Assembly of Macao on Tuesday night.     In line with the Basic Law, the new legislature is composed of 29 seats including 12 directly-elected seats, 10 indirectly-elected seats, and seven others which will be appointed by the SAR's chief executive.     A total of 122 candidates from 16 groups contested in the direct elections, while the indirect elections did not take place since only 10 candidates have been fielded by the four constituencies involved for the 10 seats.     Eight of the 12 candidates who won the direct elections were veteran lawmakers that have served their terms in the legislature, which includes Kwan Tsui Hang, Chan Meng Kam, Ng Kuok Cheong, Angela Leong On Kei, Jose Maria Pereira Coutinho, Lee Chong Cheng, Ung Choi Kun, and Au Kam San were the winners of the direct elections, while Ho Ion Sang, Mak Soi Kun, Chan Wai Chi and Melinda Chan Mei Yi become the new faces in the legislature.     For the part of indirect elections, the list of winners comprises Ho Iat Seng, Kou Hoi In, Fong Chi Keong, and Cheang Chi Keong of the industrial, commercial and financial sector; Lau Cheok Va, Lam Heong Sang of labor sector; Chui Sai Cheong and Leonel Alberto Alves of professional sector; Vitor Cheung Lup Kwan and Chan Chak Mo of social, cultural, educational and sports sector.     The election of the fourth term of the Legislative Assembly of the Macao SAR officially started Sunday morning. The authorities delayed announcing the results of the legislative election because6,539 ballots were found to be spoiled, the SAR's Legislative Election Affairs committee said Monday.     Some 149,006 of the total 249,886 registered voters cast their ballots during the polling period, but 6,539 of these ballots were deemed as invalid, according to the SAR's Legislative Election Affairs Committee.     This year's voter turnout stood at 59.9 percent, compared with 58.39 percent in the previous legislative election in 2005.     The results of the legislative election still need to be submitted to the SAR's Court for final approval, and the confirmed results will be published on the SAR's Official Gazette on Sept. 30 at the latest.

BEIJING, Oct. 17 (Xinhua) -- The Communist Party of China (CPC)Central Committee Saturday congratulated the Kuomintang (KMT) plenary congress, expecting deepening trust, more exchanges and common understanding across the Taiwan Strait.     The KMT held its 18th plenary congress Saturday morning, at which Taiwan leader Ma Ying-jeou officially assumed the position of KMT chairman.     In a statement to the KMT Central Committee and Ma Ying-jeou, the CPC Central Committee expected the two parties to stick to the"common wish for peaceful cross-Strait development".     With the 1992 Consensus and opposing "Taiwan independence" as the political foundation, the two parties should deepen mutual trust, increase exchanges and expand common understanding, the statement said.     In response to the CPC statement, the KMT Central Committee said in a reply that the two parties have reached a common understanding to promote cross-Strait peaceful development.     The KMT expected to work with the CPC for improving trust and mutual benefits, in a bid to improve the welfare of people on both sides, the statement said.     Hu Jintao, general secretary of the CPC Central Committee, congratulated Lien Chan for maintaining the position of KMT honorary chairman and Wu Poh-hsiung for taking the position of KMT honorary chairman respectively.     The "common wish for peaceful cross-Strait development," reached by the two parties during Lien's 2005 visit to the mainland, has set a clear direction and laid the foundation for cross-Strait relations, Hu said in a statement to Lien.     "We sincerely expect Mr. Lien to continue working for the peaceful development across the Strait," he said.     In response to Hu's congratulation, Lien said in a statement that since the two sides resumed systematic talks based on the 1992 Consensus, the peace and stability across the Strait has been greatly enhanced and people's welfare improved.     "We should work even harder to strengthen the five-point common wishes," Lien said.     As the KMT chairman in the past two years, Wu had made great contribution to improving cross-Strait relations, Hu said in a statement to Wu.     Last year and this May, Wu visited the mainland twice for the KMT-CPC talks, which laid solid foundations for favorable exchanges between the two sides, he said. "We expected Mr. Wu to make new contributions to cross-Strait peaceful development."     In a reply to Hu, Wu said in the past four years, the two parties pushed forward their cooperation step by step and won support from the people and the international society.     "The two parties should work together for peace and development with sincerity and goodwill," he said.     As honorary chairmen, Lien and Wu will assist Ma on cross-Strait affairs and regional exchanges.

冰绿翡翠属于什么级别

NEW DELHI, Aug. 7 (Xinhua) -- Sonia Gandhi, chairperson of India's ruling Congress-led United Progress Alliance (UPA), Friday expressed her wish that relations between India and China can be enhanced with common efforts by the two countries.     During a meeting with visiting Chinese State Councilor Dai Bingguo, Gandhi said that there exists a very solid basis for developing friendly and cooperative relations between India and China. Dai conveyed cordial greeting and good wishes from General Secretary of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China and Chinese President Hu Jintao, who also expressed his congratulations to the Congress party and the UPA for successfully winning a second term of government in the general elections this year. Indian Congress Party President Sonia Gandhi (R) shakes hands with Chinese State Councilor Dai Bingguo in New Delhi, capital of India, Aug. 7, 2009    Dai said that the Chinese government pays great importance to developing long-term, stable and healthy friendly cooperative relations with India. Under the current international and regional situation, China and India have huge potentials to develop their bilateral cooperation as two biggest developing countries in the world.     Dai also expressed his belief that the future of such cooperation is very bright.     Dai praised the UPA for helping push forward relations with China since it assumed power more than five years ago. He said that President Gandhi has personally made great efforts for the development of Sino-Indian relations as leader of the UPA and the Congress party.     Dai also said China is willing to make common efforts with India to upgrade the bilateral strategic cooperative partnership to a new level.     Gandhi also memorized the 1988 historic visit to China by her late husband, former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi, as well as her attendance of the opening ceremony of the 2008 Beijing Olympics.     She expressed her wish that as the 60th anniversary of establishment of diplomatic relations between India and China is nearing, the peoples of India and China, especially the youth of the two countries, increase human exchanges to build a good social foundation for furthering friendship between the two countries.     Dai and Gandhi also exchanged views on strengthening friendly ties between the Communist Party of China and the Congress party of India.

GUANGZHOU, Oct. 18 (Xinhua) -- Continuous severe drought over the past months has stunted rice crop, threatened reserviors and left hundreds of thousands of people short of drinking water in southern Chinese provinces.     In the southern Guangdong Province, where the precipitation in the first 10 months this year has reported a 14 percent drop compared with the average level of the past years, more than 55,000 hectares of cropland are affected and 50,000 people are facing difficulties in getting drinking water because of the drought.     Water level in Guangdong's reservoirs continued to drop. According to Guangdong Provincial Flooding and Drought Relief Headquarters, the water conservancy in Guangdong's 32 key reservoirs has reported a year-on-year decrease of 2.34 billion cubic meters.     The drought is continuing to take a toll on agricultural production in the province.     "I have never seen such a severe drought in my life," said a 73-year-old farmer in Zhoutian Township, Shaoguan City. "A great deal of crops have been damaged."     There have also been concerns of further crop damage as drought harms crop's ability to weather the winter.     In Nan'ao Island in Shantou City, home to more than 70,000 people, drought has brought inconveniences to local residents' daily bath and laundry.     The drought has left more than 70,000 people in Zhangzhou City in the southeastern Fujian Province short of drinking water.     Local hydraulic experts attribute the water shortage to the lingering drought as well as the water conservancy facilities' construction which lagged far behind the industrialization and urbanization.     In the central Hunan Province, low water level in Dongting Lake, China's second largest fresh water lake, has forced local fishermen into idle.     "October used to be a 'golden season' for fishing in the lake," said Gong Jianmin, a local fisherman. "But now we cannot go out to fish since the low water period has come early this year because of the drought."     In the eastern Jiangxi Province, the average precipitation since Sep.1 has seen a year-on-year 66-percent drop. Most cities and counties in Jiangxi have reported drought.

怎么知道翡翠手镯的价格

BEIJING, Sept. 26 (Xinhua) -- The Chinese foreign minister on Saturday described President Hu Jintao's trip to the United States to attend four important summits as a significant and far-reaching diplomatic move.     Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi made the remarks while briefing journalists who traveled to New York and Pittsburgh with Hu. Yang said that the four summits in the U.S. that Hu participated in focused on such attention-grabbing issues as the international financial crisis, climate change, non-proliferation and nuclear disarmament.     Those issues have a significant bearing on international relations and on the global situation in the future, Yang said. He said those issues also have a direct bearing on China's long-term development and fundamental interests.     Participating in four summits in as many days was an unprecedented diplomatic move by a Chinese president since the founding of the People's Republic of China in 1949, Yang said. Chinese President Hu Jintao attends the Group of 20 (G20) Financial Summit in Pittsburgh of the U.S., Sept. 25, 2009    He said Hu systematically advanced China's viewpoints and stances on important global and regional issues during the four summits.     Yang highlighted the 64th United Nations General Assembly, which drew more than 140 heads of state and government, and the world body's general debate during which Hu delivered his key-note speech "Join hands to create the future."     The foreign minister quoted Hu as saying that the world is undergoing a hectic period of big development and reform and that it is seeing a stronger trend toward peace, development and cooperation.     Hu pointed out during his U.N. speech that the world's peace and development is faced with serious challenges resulting from instability and uncertainty in the global situation.     The Chinese president urged the international community to cherish the concepts of peace, development, cooperation, win-win and tolerance in their effort to promote a lasting peace, co-prosperity and a harmonious world.     Yang said Hu proposed that the international community view the security issue through a broader view-finder, conduct cooperation with more open hearts, and materialize harmonious co-existence via a more tolerant mentality.     Hu stressed in his speech that China's destiny is increasingly linked with that of the entire world. He said that China will stick to its path of peaceful development, one that leads to mutual benefits and a win-win scenario. He said China also will stick to the five principles of peaceful co-existence while pursuing friendly cooperation with all of the other countries in the world.     China was, is and will remain a strength to be reckoned with in the maintenance of world peace and in the promotion of co-development of the world.     As a responsible big country in the midst of development, China has performed its obligation to the U.N. Millennium Declaration by extending assistance to more than 120 countries. It also has written off debts owed it by 49 heavily indebted countries and least developed countries, and is offering zero-tariff treatment to exports from 40 least developed countries.     China also will beef up its support for the developing countries that have been affected most by the international financial crisis.     Hu said that China will continue its support to the developing nations by speeding up their growth to meet their millennium goals; China will continue to give the assistance promised to African countries during the Sino-Africa Summit; and China will continue to participate and promote the regional monetary and financial cooperation.     Yang, who accompanied Hu to New York and Pittsburgh, said that the world sees the Chinese president's speech at the U.N. as commanding a strategic viewpoint and carrying a far-reaching connotation.     Hu's speech demonstrated that China is playing an irreplaceable role in international and regional affairs as a builder of international systems, Yang said. He said that the international community welcomes China to play an even larger role on the international stage.     At the U.N. non-proliferation and disarmament summit, Hu advanced his statement on the new security concept that China advocates.     It was the first time in the past decade that a Chinese leader elaborated on China's policy toward nuclear issues in person at a multilateral occasion.     Yang quoted Hu as saying that China has always advocated a total ban and total destruction of nuclear weapons. Hu said China will stick to its self-defense nuclear strategy and to its promise not to be the first to ever resort to nuclear weapons under any circumstance.     China has also obliged itself to not threaten nuclear-free countries and regions with the use of nuclear weapons.     Hu told the non-proliferation and disarmament summit that China will continue to promote the process of international nuclear disarmament and to contribute efforts toward the system safeguarding the implementation of the non-proliferation treaty.     This approach, Hu said, has fully demonstrated China's fairness, responsibility and contribution toward the construction of a nuclear-free world, which reflected the legitimate claim by the developing countries, safeguarded the interests of the developing countries and helped to move the non-proliferation and disarmament talks to a more positive direction of development.     Yang described the G-20 summit as an effective platform on which the international community can cooperate in its joint dealings with the ongoing international financial and economic crises to better governance of the global economy.     Hu has participated in all three of the G-20 summits centered on the financial crisis. In Pittsburgh, Hu made it clear that though the world has seen positive economic signs, there is a long way to go before full recovery is achieved because there are many uncertainties remaining.     The Chinese president listed three tasks the international community must deal with without hesitation in face of their efforts to end the recession.     The tasks, Yang re-capped, are to keep stimulating economic growth, to promote reform of the international financial system, and to strike a balanced development of the world economy.     Hu said in Pittsburgh that all of the concerned countries should keep their stimulus plans in place and make more efforts in promoting consumption and domestic demand. He warned that those countries should also keep an eye on any potential side-effects of their efforts, especially concerning inflation.     The developing countries, Hu said, should be given more representation and say in the world's international financial institutions. He said that all of the countries concerned also should make efforts to forge an international mechanism for balanced development of the world economy.     Cooperation in technology should be given high priority so as to help bridge the gap between the developed and developing countries, Hu suggested.     Hu cited China as an obvious example of the packaged stimulus plan in face of the ongoing financial and economic crises. He said that his country would continue to carry out its promised and planned assistance to developing countries, especially those in Africa, and would try within its capacity to increase such assistance.     Hu's viewpoints and proposed measures on international cooperation on financial system won praise from many heads of state and government in Pittsburgh, Yang said.     The foreign minister said that the president based his proposals on safeguarding the fundamental interests of the people in China and around the world and therefore his viewpoints and measures got nods of approval from many of the leaders at the G-20summit.     As the U.N. climate change conference in Copenhagen approaches, Yang said the issue of climate change is attracting greater public attention.     Because China is the largest developing country and an emerging economy, its stand on the issue is closely watched by the international community, Yang said.     "Global climate change has a profound impact on the existence and development of mankind and is a major challenge facing all countries," Hu stressed.     During his speech at the U.N. climate change summit, Hu put forward a four-point proposal on joint efforts to deal with climate change by the international community.     Fulfilling respective responsibilities should be at the core of the effort, Hu said.     Concerned parties should positively implement the "Bali Roadmap" talks according to the requests of the United Nations Convention on Climate Change and the Kyoto protocol, Hu said.     Achieving mutual benefits and a win-win outcome should be the goal of the effort, Hu said.     Supporting developing countries in countering climate change is a responsibility of developed countries and also benefits their long-term interests, Hu said.     "We should realize a win-win outcome for both developed and developing countries, and interests of each state and the whole mankind," he said.     Promoting common development should be the basis of the effort, the president said.     "Without common development, particularly the development of developing countries, there cannot be a broad and solid basis in the long run for tackling climate change," he said.     Ensuring financing and technology holds the key to the success of the effort, Hu noted.     He urged the developed countries to take up their responsibilities and provide developing nations with new financial support to facilitate their dealings with climate change.     Although China faces a lot of difficulties in the course of development, it attaches great importance to climate change and has taken a series of measures to address the issue, Hu said.     The Chinese leader pledged that his country will further integrate actions on climate change into its economic and social development plan.     China will intensify efforts to conserve energy and improve energy efficiency, vigorously develop renewable and nuclear energy and step up efforts to develop a green economy, he said.     As a responsible country, Hu said, China will make the Copenhagen conference achieve positive results.     Hu emphasized the principle of common but differentiated responsibilities, and said that China firmly safeguards the interests of developing countries.     Hu announced significant measures China will adopt on emission reduction, which have been lauded by the international community, Yang said.     Many foreign leaders said Hu's speech hit the high points of current climate change talks, reflected the common aspirations of the developing countries, and showed the image of a responsible and large country, the foreign minister said.     After meeting with dozens of foreign leaders on the sidelines of the U.N. meetings and the G-20 financial summit, Hu reached consensus with them on bilateral relations and joint efforts to deal with the financial crisis, Yang said.     During talks with U.S. President Barack Obama, Hu pointed out that China and the United States should maintain frequent high-level exchanges and implement their pledges made at the first China-U.S. Strategic and Economic Dialogue in Washington in July.     They also should deepen cooperation on major international and regional issues, expand exchanges on humanity, properly address each other's interests and concerns, and firmly oppose protectionism, Hu said.     When meeting with Russian President Dmitry Medvedev, Hu said China attaches great importance to enhancing its strategic partnership of cooperation with Russia. He said China is working to implement the consensus reached between the two sides. Both leaders agreed to further expand exchanges in various fields and deepen the Sino-Russian strategic partnership of cooperation.     Yang said Hu's meeting with Japanese Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama was the first between the two leaders since Hatoyama was elected prime minister on Sept. 16.     During their talks, Hu said the two sides should enhance high-level exchanges so as to improve political trust, promote trade and economic cooperation, and improve the feelings of their people toward each other in order to consolidate the basis of good public opinion.     Hu said that Japan's war-time history and Taiwan are two major issues concerning the political basis of Sino-Japanese relations. China hopes Japan can live up to its commitment and properly handle the two issues.     When meeting with his French counterpart Nicolas Sarkozy, Hu said China is ready to work with France to review the historical experience of bilateral relations, and promote a healthy and steady development of the comprehensive strategic partnership between the two nations.     Hu also met with South African President Jacob Zuma, South Korean President Lee Myung-bak, President Gurbanguly Berdymukhamedov of Turkmenistan and President Evo Morales of Bolivia on bilateral ties and major issues of common concern.     Yang said China has maintained friendly cooperation with nations in the world, and has forged partnership with many. Frequent high-level exchanges are an important way to boost bilateral ties with other countries.     Yang summed up Hu's attendance at the four summits as a complete success.     China will earnestly implement the consensus reached by Hu at the U.N. summits and expand cooperation with other nations to jointly meet the global challenges so as to contribute to the world's peace, stability and development, he said. 

BEIJING, Sep. 14 -- Just two days after the decision by the United States to levy heavy import tariffs on Chinese tires, the government here has reacted by launching an anti-dumping and anti-subsidies investigation into automotive and chicken exports from the US.     The Ministry of Commerce (MOFCOM) Sunday did not label it as retaliation against the tire dispute, but said it acted simply in a response to domestic concerns.     The probe, which is in line with World Trade Organization (WTO) rules, follows complaints from Chinese manufacturers that US-made products entered the nation's markets with "unfair competition" and harmed domestic industries, said the ministry in a statement.     MOFCOM added it is still opposed to trade protectionism and committed to working towards global economic recovery.     US President Barack Obama's signed a document "to apply an increased duty to all imports of passenger vehicle and light truck tires from China for a period of three years" on Friday, according to the White House.         In addition to the existing duties of 4 percent, tariffs will rise a further 35 percent in the first year, 30 percent in the second and 25 percent in the third. The levy will take effect before Sept 26.     The move was met with anger in China.     Minister of Commerce Chen Deming branded the decision a violation of WTO rules, a grave act of trade protectionism and a breach of the commitment the US made at the Group of 20 (G20) financial summit in London in April.     "This is an abuse of special safeguard provisions and sends the wrong signal to the world," he said in a statement on the MOFCOM website. He assured China would do everything in its power to protect the legitimate rights of the tire producers but did not elaborate.     However, in an earlier statement, ministry spokesman Yao Jian said the country would "reserve all legitimate rights, including referring the case to the WTO".     Washington played down the dispute on Saturday, claiming it is simply "enforcing the rules" and did not expect the move to escalate into a trade war.     However, the US could also levy heavier tariffs on other imports from China, such as steel, aluminum and chemical products, according to an industry insider who asked to remain anonymous.     The US Commerce Department on Thursday said it had made a preliminary decision to impose duties ranging from 11 to 31 percent on imports of Chinese steel pipes used for oil and gas wells.     The ruling supports the proposal made by the nation's steel producers led by US Steel Corp, which claimed Chinese imports were granted unfair subsidies.     MOFCOM, however, said the ruling is not in line with the subsidy and anti-subsidy agreements under the WTO framework.    Chinese officials and their US counterparts have been unable to reach an agreement after five months of talks. However, the new tariff is lower than the 55 percent proposed by the US International Trade Commission (ITC) based on a petition led by the United Steelworkers union (USW) that said tire imports had tripled since 2004, causing plant closures and job losses.    MOFCOM spokesman Yao said the move would push the cost onto the consumers, cause US wholesalers and retailers to scramble to find other suppliers, and fail to create new jobs in the US.    "Chinese tire producers pose no direct competition to those in the US," he said before adding that China's tire exports to the US had not witnessed a remarkable increase as claimed by the USW.    Last year, the country's tire exports to the US grew by just 2.2 percent compared to 2007 and, in the first half of this year, fell 16 percent compared to 2008, explained Yao.     "Four US companies have tire production operations in China and account for two-thirds of exports to the US. The tariffs will have a direct impact on them," he said.     Cooper Tire and Rubber Co, a US-based tire maker, warned that higher tariff could disrupt markets.     The company said in a statement it believes in free and fair trade, and that the ITC's proposed remedy "is not appropriate or acceptable and could have significant negative impacts causing considerable market disruption".     The industry insider told China Daily the closure of many US tire factories "is, to some extent, a result of the strategic adjustment of the tire industry", with many tire firms moving production of low-end tires off-shore to make use of cheap labor.     "President Obama's decision is not in the interest of companies seeking higher profit margins," the insider said.     Analysts claim the actions of the Obama administration are at odds with its public statements about how protectionism could deepen the ongoing crisis.     The US and China, the world's two major economic engines, vowed to cooperate in the fight against the world recession but this dispute has caused friction before its top officials meet at a G20 summit in Pittsburgh on Sept 24-25. Obama is also expected to visit China in November.     The tariff change has also sparked debate in the US.     USW's International President Leo Gerard hailed the tariff hike by saying it "sent the message that we expect others to live by the rules, just as we do".     However, Marguerite Trossevin, legal counsel to the American Coalition for Free Trade in Tires, a pro-business group, said: "We are certainly disheartened the president bowed to the USW and disregarded the interests of thousands of other US workers and consumers."