BRUSSELS - The European Union will extend anti-dumping duties on bicycles imported from China, and impose trade barriers on Chinese ceramic tiles, according to a document obtained by Xinhua on Wednesday.

The EU is set to introduce a five-year import duties of up to 69.7 percent on Chinese bathroom, kitchen and paving tiles, which will take effect starting from mid-September.

Meanwhile, EU will extend anti-dumping duties of 48.5 percent on Chinese bicycles and bicycle parts till 2016.

It is said that major bicycle producers in Europe, such as Germany, France and Italy, were the driving force for the decision to extend the punitive duties until 2016 instead of originally planned for 2014.

"It is a bad time for EU-China trade ties," Robert Maclean, partner with Squire, Sanders & Dempsey Law Firm, said on Wednesday.

It's a pity to see the anti-dumping duties extended from three years to five years, he said.

Robert Maclean, who has been conducting the case on behalf of Chinese Chamber of Commerce for Imports and Exports of Machinery and Electronic Products for many years, said the EU's case was weak.

"The EU has made a terrible decision," he said, recommending China to submit the case to the World Trade Organization.

Meanwhile, the European Commission, the EU's executive arm, is also investigating alleged "market dumping" by Chinese exporters of certain types of fiberglass used in the production of high-tech goods such as light-weight cars.

If acknowledged, the Commission could introduce temporary tariffs on the Chinese imports by the end of March 2012, and a permanent five-year duties by September 2012.