WASHINGTON - The US International Trade Commission (USITC) on Wednesday decided to maintain the antidumping duty order on imports of steel nails from China.

The bipartisan trade panel voted unanimously in determining that revoking the existing antidumping order on imports of this product from China "would be likely to lead to continuation or recurrence of material injury within a reasonably foreseeable time."

As a result, the existing antidumping order issued in August 2008 on steel nails from China will remain in force.

The Uruguay Round Agreements Act requires the Commerce Department to revoke an antidumping or countervailing duty order, or terminate a suspension agreement, after five years unless the Commerce Department and the USITC determine that revoking the order or terminating the suspension agreement would be likely to lead to continuation or recurrence of dumping or subsidies and of material injury within a reasonably foreseeable time.

The five-year review concerning steel nails from China was launched on July 1 and the USITC voted to conduct full reviews on October 21.

The Chinese Ministry of Commerce has repeatedly urged Washington to abide by its commitment against protectionism and help maintain a free, open and just international trade environment.