China is conducting a preliminary anti-dumping investigation of U.S.-made autos in response to a request by China's car industry, Commerce Minister Chen Deming said on Thursday.
Speaking to reporters after two days of high-level Sino-American trade talks in this eastern Chinese city, Chen promised an "objective, just and fair review".
President Barack Obama, who will visit China in mid-November, angered Beijing last month by slapping a 35 percent duty on imports of Chinese-made tyres, which totalled about $1.8 billion last year.
China immediately challenged the action at the World Trade Organisation and said it would launch an anti-dumping and countervailing-duty investigation against U.S. autos to offset unfair pricing and government subsidies.
Beijing's probe could lead to new import duties on autos and sports utility vehicles made by Chrysler, Ford and General Motors, a U.S. industry official said on Wednesday.
