BEIJING, Nov. 9 (Xinhua) -- China firmly opposes a decision of the United States to initiate combined anti-dumping and anti-subsidy investigations into Chinese-made lightweight thermal paper, a spokesman for the Ministry of Commerce said in a statement Friday.

    The U.S. Department of Commerce made the decision on Oct. 29.

    The spokesman said, "This is the seventh combined anti-dumping and anti-subsidy probe the United States has initiated targeting Chinese products.

    "So many combined anti-dumping and anti-subsidy investigations launched by the United States against Chinese products in a short period of time have caused strong discontent in the Chinese industry," the spokesman said.

    The U.S. moves were unhelpful for the development of a harmonious, healthy trade relationship between China and the United States, which was mutually beneficial, according to the spokesman.

    "Such moves have complicated the economic and trade relations between China and the United States, and are unwise and wrong," the spokesman said.

    "They sent wrong signals to the U.S. industry and brought unnecessary, huge pressures on both the Chinese and U.S. governments," he said.

    Lightweight thermal paper is widely used for printing tickets and receipts.