The European Union (EU) has decided not to impose provisional anti-dumping duties on Chinese steel products, the European Commission said Saturday.

    But the EU will continue its investigation on whether to impose definitive anti-dumping duties.

    The EU's decision came after nine months of investigation on hot-dipped metallic coated iron or steel flat-rolled products from China.

    "We have decided not to impose provisional duties. We can continue the investigation with another six months. At the end of the six months, we can decide to impose definitive duties or not," said Peter Power, spokesman of EU Trade Commissioner Peter Mandelson.

    The European Commission is also investigating whether to impose provisional duties on two other Chinese steel products -- stainless steel cold-rolled flat products and wire rods.