The U.S. International Trade Commission (ITC) decided on April 19 to impose heavy anti-dumping tariffs on imports of optical brightening agents from China's mainland and Taiwan.

In a statement issued on April 19, the commission announced that it had voted 6-0 that China's optical brighteners have materially injured or threaten to materially injure U.S. producers.

According to the procedures of U.S. trade remedy cases, the U.S. Commerce Department will set duties ranging from 63.98 percent to 109.95 percent on Chinese optical brighteners following the ITC's final ruling.

Optical brightening agents are chemical products commonly used in laundry detergents and cosmetics.

This year has seen the U.S. has initiated a slew of countervailing investigations against Chinese imports, including solar battery and stainless steel sinks, adding fuel to a brewing trade war.

In response to a series of trade remedies cases initiated by the U.S., the Chinese commerce ministry said it hoped the U.S. would honor its commitment to fight protectionism and maintain a free, open and fair trade environment, in which trade frictions are dealt with in a more rational way.

Contact the writer of this story at: hes@china.org.cn.