WASHINGTON - The US government said on Friday that it will continue to maintain the existing anti-dumping duties on furfuryl alcohol from China, despite Beijing's repeated calls for Washington to drop protectionism.

The US International Trade Commission (ITC) said in a statement that revoking the existing anti-dumping duty order on furfuryl alcohol from China would be likely to lead to continuation or recurrence of material injury within a reasonably foreseeable time.

As a result, the existing order on imports of this product from China, which was widely used in organic chemistry, will remain in place. The duty ranges from 43.54 percent to 50.43 percent.

Under the Uruguay Round Agreements Act, the US Department of Commerce has to revoke an anti-dumping or countervailing duty order, or terminate a suspension agreement, after five years unless the department and the ITC 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.

Trade tensions with China are a particularly sensitive issue at a time when the US and other Western economies want to boost exports to revive economic growth and cut unemployment.

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.