BEIJING - The European Commission's decision to start an anti-subsidy investigation into imported bikes from China is an apparent abuse of trade remedy measures, the Ministry of Commerce (MOC) said Saturday.

"After maintaining anti-dumping measures on Chinese bikes for 19 years, the commission's move to launch a fresh anti-subsidy probe on the same product is a typical abuse of trade remedy policies," a MOC official said.

Accusations of the establishment of subsidy programs lack evidence, the official said, adding that China's small market share in the EU, around 2 to 3 percent, could in no way cause harm to local manufacturers.

The MOC said China will closely watch the investigation's progress and reserve its right to implement countermeasures within the WTO framework.

Europe has imposed anti-dumping tariffs on Chinese bikes since 1993 and decided last year to extend a 48.5-percent duty until 2016.