Chinese exports were targeted by a total of 72 trade investigations in 2012, according to China's General Administration of Customs.

Trade protectionism is prevalent globally and the external environment for Chinese trade is worsening, according to Zheng Yuesheng, spokesman of the Customs. Among the world's major economies, Chinese exports were the most targeted by trade protectionism. Emerging economies are also increasingly launching trade investigations against China, while the number of targeted industries is rising.

China's foreign trade in 2012 grew 6.2 percent year-on-year to $3.87 trillion, missing the target of 10-percent growth set by the government, but still the best performer among major economies.