In the first three quarters of 2006, 23 countries and regions launched 70 investigation cases of anti-dumping, anti-subsidies and safeguard measures, hitting a record high. The European Union decided to impose 4.8 percent provisional anti-dumping duties on China-made leather shoes beginning April 7 and the duty level was changed to 16.5 percent beginning October 7.

China has learned to solve conflicts through dialogue, holding the first China-U.S. Strategic Economic Dialogue in Beijing on December 14-15, the highest level among the existing China-U.S. dialogue and consultation mechanisms.