The European Commission on May 11 imposed a provisional anti-dumping tariff of 20.6 percent on aluminum alloy wheel imports from China, according to information released by the China Association of Automobile Manufacturers (CAAM).

The move came as a result of an anti-dumping investigation the commission initiated in August 2009 into $390 million worth of aluminum alloy wheels imported from China, according to CAAM.

"According to the statistics of Chinese customs offices, China's exports between July 2008 and May 2008 only accounted for 8 percent of the aluminum alloy wheel market in Europe," CAAM said in statement. 

"At the same time, our companies are exporting wheels to Europe at prices higher than domestic levels, which essentially does not constitute dumping and has inflicted no damage to the counterpart European industry," it argued.

CAAM said it reserves the right to appeal on the case to the trade dispute settlement body of the World Trade Organization if the European Commission does not withdraw its decision.