WASHINGTON - The US Commerce Department on Wednesday set preliminary dumping margins on imports of certain passenger vehicle and light truck tires from China, signaling that it may impose punitive duties on those products.

The department made its preliminary affirmative determination that the products from China had been sold in the United States at dumping margins ranging from 19.17 percent to 87.99 percent.

Last November, the department announced that producers and exporters of such products from China had received countervailing subsidies ranging from 12.5 percent to 81.29 percent.

Punitive duties would be imposed after both the Commerce Department and the US International Trade Commission (ITC) made affirmative final rulings, which are scheduled in June and July, respectively. If the ITC makes a negative determination, the investigations will be terminated.

Imports of these products from China were estimated at about $2. 1 billion in 2013, according to US official data.

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