WASHINGTON - The US Commerce Department on Wednesday announced its preliminary affirmative determination in the antidumping duty (AD) investigation against imports of large residential washing machines from China, signaling that it may pose punitive duties on the products.

The department said that such products from China had been sold in the United States at dumping margins of 49.88 percent to 111.09 percent.

As a result of the preliminary affirmative determinations, Commerce will instruct US Customs and Border Protection to require cash deposits based on these preliminary rates.

The Commerce launched AD investigations against imports of such products from China in January 2016, in response to a request from Whirlpool Corporation based in the state of Michigan, the department said in a statement. The department is scheduled to make its final determinations in December this year, unless the statutory deadline is extended.

Punitive duties would be imposed after both the Commerce Department and the US International Trade Commission (USITC) make affirmative final rulings. The USITC is scheduled to make its final determination in January 2017.

Imports of these products from China were estimated at about $899.4 million in 2014, according to US official data.

The Chinese Ministry of Commerce has kept urging Washington to abide by its commitment against protectionism and help maintain a free, open and just international trade environment.