Hydrodechlorination of carbon tetrachloride (CCl4) was investigated on group VI metal carbides (WC, W2C, Mo2C) prepared by temperature programmed carburization of WO3 and MoO3 in 10-20% CH4/H-2 mixtures. Their catalytic performances have been compared with those of 1 wt.% Pt/gamma-Al2O3 catalyst. Experiments were carried out at atmospheric pressure in a fixed bed flow reactor at 120 and 250 degreesC with a molar ratio H-2/CCl4 = 12. WC shows the best selectivity towards chloroform (CHCl3), whatever the temperature and particularly at 120 degreesC (selectivity above 99%) while W2C and Mo2C produce tetrachloroethylene in substantial amount. Mo2C and W2C deactivate rapidly with time irrespective of the temperature, whereas WC exhibits a good stability at 120 degreesC. Surface characterization indicates that the deactivation on M2C (M = Mo, W) could be correlated to the formation of a chlorocarbonaceous polymer.