WASHINGTON -- The US Commerce Department Friday announced its affirmative preliminary determination in the antidumping duty (AD) investigations of imports of utility scale wind towers from China and Vietnam, signaling that it may impose punitive duties on these products.

The Commerce Department preliminarily determined that Chinese and Vietnamese producers/exporters sold utility scale wind towers in the US market at dumping margins of 20.85 percent to 72.69 percent and 52.67 percent to 59.91 percent, respectively. The merchandise covered by this investigation is steel towers that support the engine and rotor blades for use in wind turbines with electrical power generation capacities in excess of 100 kilowatts.

The department is scheduled to make its final determination in December 2012.

The department would issue AD orders after both it and the US International Trade Commission (USITC) make affirmative final rulings. The USITC is expected to make a final decision over the issue in February 2013.

The US move came at a time when protectionism is making a comeback in America amid sluggish economic recovery. It was widely believed that such actions would only hurt US-China trade relations that are increasingly critical to global recovery.

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.