The Chinese steel industry has strongly condemned a US move to slap preliminary anti-dumping duties on steel gratings imports, and is likely to appeal against the measure.

The US Commerce Department said on Tuesday that it would impose duties of as high as 145.18 percent on imports of steel gratings from China, in a bid to offset "unfairly low" prices and help American counterparts become more competitive.

The Department is expected to take a final decision on the matter next April.