BEIJING -- The government initiated anti-dumping probes into perchlorethylene imported from the European Union and the United States on Friday, the Ministry of Commerce said.

The probes were launched in response to applications from domestic companies, the ministry said in a statement posted on its website.

The ministry will examine whether and to what extent such imports have hurt the Chinese industry.

The probes are expected to end within a year and can be extended for another six months under special circumstances.

Perchlorethylene is a chlorinated solvent and used extensively by dry cleaning plants. Other applications include vapor degreasing and use as a chemical intermediate and processing solvent.