WASHINGTON-- The United States determined Tuesday it would continue to slap antidumping duties against tapered roller bearings from China.

Revoking the current antidumping duty order on imports of Chinese tapered roller bearings would be likely to lead to continuation or recurrence of material injury within a reasonably foreseeable time, said the US International Trade Commission in a ruling.

As a result of ITC's affirmative determination, the existing antidumping duties of 7.74 percent on imports of this kind of products from China will remain in force.

The US move came under the five-year review process required by 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.

This is the latest five-year review instituted last August by the US Commerce Department, which started to impose antidumping duties against Chinese tapered roller bearings from 1987.

This is America's latest trade protection move against China this year. With the US economy recovering at a slow pace, the protectionism moves by the world's largest economy are on the rise recently.

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.