China has been strengthening its efforts to fend off trade offensives from South Korea by issuing a series of anti-dumping rulings since it joined the World Trade Organization two years ago.

In particular, China has decided to impose anti-dumping tariffs on six Korean items, including cold-rolled steel, since January this year.

An anti-dumping probe has also been under way into Korean ethyl alcohol and choloroform products since May.

According to industry officials, China is shoring up its "trade barriers'" since entering the World Trade Organization (WTO) in 2001 and anti-dumping measures against Korean products, including petrochemicals are expected to continue.