China will levy anti-dumping duties on carbon steel fasteners imported from the European Union, the Ministry of Commerce said on Monday, formalising a preliminary duty initiated last December.

It set a final duty ranging from 6.1 percent to 26 percent will last for five years, the ministry said in a statement on its website, www.mofcom.gov.cn

Beijing slapped preliminary duties on imports of carbon steel fasteners from the EU last December.

China has been involved in an escalating tussle with the EU over fasteners since last year. The country took to the World Trade Organisation a formal trade dispute with the EU over its anti-dumping measures on Chinese-made steel screws and bolts last July.

Trade disputes between Brussels and Beijing have been rising since the EU's trade deficit with China ballooned.

The EU has imposed additional tariffs on imports of Chinese products ranging from shoes to steel products. (Reuters)