BEIJING, May 24 (Xinhua) -- China's Ministry of Commerce said Thursday that it hopes the European Union will carefully assess its overall interests and be cautious in taking restrictive measures.

The EU said Thursday it had decided to launch an anti-dumping probe into hot-rolled steel imports from China.

The EU has launched repeated anti-dumping and anti-subsidy probes into iron and steel products from China.

The investigations are overprotecting its steel industry and not beneficial to the long-term development and upgrading of the industry. They are harmful for consumers, and seriously disrupt the steel trade between China and the EU, said Wang Hejun, head of the ministry's trade remedy and investigation bureau.

Weak growth of the steel industry was caused by declining demand against the backdrop of world economic downturn, said Wang. "The way out is joint efforts from all countries to return to stable growth as soon as possible. Restrictive trade measures won't help."

China expects the EU to practice restraint, strengthen cooperation and increase overall demand, said Wang.