WASHINGTON - The US Commerce Department announced Tuesday that it was launching anti-dumping investigations on prestressed concrete steel rail tie wire from China, Mexico and Thailand.

The investigations are in response to the petition filed on April 23, 2013 by the Insteel Wire Products Company based in North Carolina and Davis Wire Corporation based in Washington.

They alleged the steel wire imported from China, Mexico and Thailand were sold in the US market with dumping margins of 67.43 percent, 159.44 percent and 53.72 percent, respectively.

The US International Trade Commission (ITC) is scheduled to make its preliminary injury determination on or before June 7, 2013.

If the ITC determines that imports from China and the other two countries are materially injuring, or threatening material injury to the US domestic industry, the Commerce Department will continue the investigations and is expected to make its anti-dumping preliminary determinations in September 2013.

In 2012, the United States imported an estimated $35.57 million of the steel wire from China, $14.69 million from Mexico and $373,000 from Thailand, according to the US government's data.

The Chinese Commerce Ministry 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.