As one of the victims of the US dumping ruling, Xu Guangliang, general manger of Zhejiang-based Kangda Import and Export Company has chosen legal means as his weapon to deal with the charges.

Working with another two Chinese canvas manufacturers, his company has recruited lawyers from both China and the US to defeat the accusation.

He said it is the only course of action he could take to keep dozens of Chinese enterprises in the US market.

“As high as 600,000 US dollars for legal fees is not a small amount for a company like mine, but if we don't respond, even greater losses will be incurred once such charges are proven.”

The US Department of Commerce announced its decision a week ago to initiate an antidumping investigation on imports of certain types of canvas from China, aiming to protect its ailing domestic market. It also intends to raise tariffs from the current 6 percent up to 200 percent.

So far, there are thirteen Chinese canvas manufacturers exporting products to the US, and information from China's Ministry of Commerce shows China's exports only account for a quarter of a percent in US domestic shares.

The industry association believes protectionism is the driving force behind the restriction.

Secretary General of China Chamber of Commerce for Import and Export of Textiles, Wang Yu said the decision will not help reduce the US trade deficit, and that it will make both enterprises in China and customers in the US suffer.

He warned that once such high tariffs were imposed, the US investment climate would be greatly undermined.

“Since the US uses both anti-dumping and safeguard measures to restrict the export of textile products from China, other countries are likely to follow suit. Therefore, China will face more difficulties.”

A report by the World Trade Organization indicates that China has ranked second among global dumping investigations, and by the end of last year, there were over 600 dumping cases targeting China. Among them, 25 kinds of products have been slapped with high tariffs.

Insiders say in the wake of increasing bills against low-cost China-made products, Chinese enterprises may face a harder time, and only when they team up to fight against charges, can they escape the hot water.