Steel wheels are displayed at an exhibition. [FIle photo]

The US Commerce Department yesterday reaffirmed its preliminary determination in the antidumping duty investigation of imports of steel wheels from China.

The department preliminarily?decided that Chinese manufacturers and exporters have sold steel wheels at margins ranging from 110. 58 to 193.54 percent ad valorem.

The U.S. imported steel wheels worth of an estimated US$80.4 million from China last year.

The department said it is scheduled to make its final determination in March 2012.

If the department makes an affirmative final determination, and the US International Trade Commission (ITC) makes an affirmative final determination that imports of steel wheels from China materially injure or threaten material injury to, the US industry, the department will issue an antidumping duty order.

The ITC is scheduled to make its final injury determination on or about April 23, 2012.

With the US economy recovering at a slow pace, the protectionism moves made by the world's largest economy are on the rise.