China has levied an anti-dumping tariff on X-ray security scanners made by European companies, according to an announcement from the Ministry of Commerce.

China will impose a tax ranging from 33.5 percent to 71.8 percent on such imports for the next five years, effective January 23.

The ministry said an investigation showed the makers of European X-ray scanners have "dumped" products into the Chinese market by selling them at a price lower than what is charged in their own markets, and that Chinese manufacturers have suffered actual damages as a result. There has been a causal relationship between the dumping and the actual damage to Chinese manufacturers, according to the investigation.