The United States International Trade Commission has decided to scrap anti-dumping tariffs imposed on Chinese natural bristle paint brushes more than 24 years ago, according to a statement on the website of the Chinese Ministry of Commerce.

The decision was made after the Paint Applicators Trade Action Coalition and the Paint Applicator Division of the American Brush Manufacturers Association, two American organizations which demanded the investigation back in 1985, asked for an end of more tariffs on the Chinese products.

On December 18, 1985, the US International Trade Commission levied an anti-dumping duty of 127.07 percent on Chinese paint brush producer China National Native Produce and Animal By-Products Import and Export Corp.

The figure was raised to 351.92 percent on March 22, 2010, after a review.

"The case may be small in value, but it is very meaningful against the background of growing trade disputes these days," said Feng Jun, a professor at the Shanghai Institute of Foreign Trade.

"The US decision is welcome and we really hope the Americans can understand that it is their loss if they refuse to let Chinese products in."

The latest US punitive duties, of up to 174.85 percent, were imposed on Chinese electric blankets. Since September last year when the US decided to collect tariffs from Chinese tire exporters, products involved in the trade disputes have expanded to steel, oil drill pipes, coated paper, copper tubes, chicken, and many others.