China filed a formal complaint against European Union (EU)'s decision to extend antidumping duties on Chinese-made shoes at the World Trade Organization.

China's Ministry of Commerce also urged the EU to take seriously China's strong concerns and properly resolve the dispute over shoe tariffs through consultation at an early date.

After announcing in December to take the tariffs to the WTO, China filed the formal papers Thursday. Under WTO's dispute settlement procedures, the EU now has 60 days to offer a compromise. If consultations fail, China can ask for a WTO expert panel to investigate and rule on the dispute.

The duties were launched in 2006, and extended for a further 15 months in December 2009. At the same time, shoe imports from Vietnam were hit with a 10% tariff.