The European Commission on Thursday defended its penalty taxes on Chinese shoe imports after Beijing launched a complaint with the World Trade Organisation (WTO).

Beijing earlier Thursday launched a complaint with the world trade body arguing that the EU import taxes on its shoe exports violated WTO rules.

"China has made a request for consultations to the WTO dispute settlement body regarding the anti-dumping measures taken by the EU against Chinese shoes," Beijing's commerce ministry said in a statement on its website. It added that China had "officially launched a WTO dispute settlement procedure.”

If there is no bilateral agreement on the issue within 60 days the WTO's dispute settlement body will set up a special group to rule on the trade dispute.