THE European Union on Tuesday announced the imposition of punitive anti-dumping duties on imports of steel ropes and cables from China, Hungary, India, Mexico, Poland, South Africa and Ukraine. China was the hardest hit with duty of 74,8% imposed provisionally for six months. Hungary and South Africa got off lightest with a rate of 33,9%. The commission said the companies targetted by the duties have increased their share of the EU market from 12% in 1993 to 23% in 1998.