The U.S. Commerce Department on Friday announced its preliminary affirmative determination in the anti-dumping duty investigation against imports of silica bricks and shapes from China, signaling that it may pose punitive duties on the products.

The department said that Chinese producers and exporters sold the products in the U.S. market at dumping margins from 84.89 percent to 91.16 percent.

The Commerce Department launched the investigation on Dec. 6, 2012, alleging that these products were sold at less than fair value in U.S. market, with dumping margins ranging from 118.47 percent to 290.12 percent.

The Commerce Department is scheduled to make the final determination in November.

Punitive duties would be imposed after both the Commerce Department and the U.S. International Trade Commission (USITC) make affirmative final rulings. The USITC is scheduled to make its

final determination in December.

In 2012, imports of silica bricks and shapes from China were at an estimated 25.7 million U.S. dollars, according to the U.S. Commerce Department.

The petitioner for this investigation is Utah Refractories Corporation.

Trade tensions due to U.S. protectionism against China have been persistent, as some U.S. manufacturers lose competitiveness in the process of globalization.

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