WASHINGTON - The US government determined on Tuesday it would maintain the existing anti-dumping duty orders on steel threaded rod and malleable iron pipe fittings from China, despite Beijing's repeated calls for Washington to drop protectionism.

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The US International Trade Commission (ITC) concluded in a ruling that revoking the current antidumping duty orders on these products from China would be likely to lead to continuation or recurrence of material injury within a reasonably foreseeable time.

It is the first "sunset review" for the antidumping duty order on imports of steel threaded rod from China, which was introduced in 2009. The antidumping duty margin on this product runs from 47. 37 percent to 206 percent.

This is the second "sunset review" for the anti-dumping duty order on imports of malleable iron pipe fittings from China, which was first issued in 2003. The antidumping duty margin on the product runs up to 111.36 percent.

A "sunset review" was conducted every five years after anti- dumping and countervailing duties were introduced. The Uruguay Round Agreements Act requires the US Department of Commerce to revoke an anti-dumping or countervailing duty order, or terminate a suspension agreement, after five years unless the department and the ITC determine that revoking the order or terminating the suspension agreement would likely lead to the continuation or recurrence of dumping or subsidies and of material injury within a reasonably foreseeable time.

The Chinese Ministry of Commerce has repeatedly urged the United States to abide by its commitment against trade protectionism and work together with China and other members of the international community to maintain a free, open and just international trade environment.