WASHINGTON - The International Trade Commission (ITC) of the United States ruled Wednesday that an American industry is materially injured by reason of imports of crystalline silicon photovoltaic products from China, paving the way for the US government to levy punitive duties on the products.

As a result of the ITC's affirmative determinations, the US Department of Commerce will issue countervailing duty orders on imports of these products from Chinese mainland and antidumping duty orders on imports of these products from Chinese mainland and Taiwan, said the ITC in a final ruling.

Last month, the Commerce Department announced its final determination that these products from Chinese mainland and Taiwan had been sold in the United States at dumping margins ranging from 26.71 percent to 165.04 percent, and 11.45 percent to 27.55 percent, respectively.

The department also determined that producers and exporters of photovoltaic products from Chinese mainland received countervailable subsidies ranging from 27.64 percent to 49.79 percent.

It was the latest US action against Chinese solar products after a similar one in 2011, which seriously affected the Chinese photovoltaic industry and hindered the development of US photovoltaic application market.

China's Ministry of Commerce has reiterated its calls for the United States to objectively and fairly handle ongoing solar trade disputes, honor its commitment against protectionism and work with China to maintain a free, open and just trade environment.