BRUSSELS (Reuters) - The European Union will defend its duties on fasteners such as screws and bolts imported from China when the World Trade Organisation hears the country's complaint, the bloc's executive arm said on Monday.

The 27-nation EU slapped the duties on certain iron and steel fasteners of up to 85 percent of their value in January, saying China was dumping them on the bloc's market, or selling them below the costs of production at home.

China challenged the decision at the Geneva-based WTO, but the EU said it had followed all rules on anti-dumping duties.

Governments and economists are closely monitoring the use of anti-dumping measures at a time when the economic crisis has raised the temptation of national protectionism.

"We regret that China has today asked for a WTO panel on EU anti-dumping measures on fasteners," Commission spokesman Lutz Guellner said in a statement. 

"In all anti-dumping cases, the European Commission strictly follows the applicable EU rules which are in full compliance with the terms of the WTO Anti-Dumping Agreement," it said, adding the same applied for fasteners.