WASHINGTON - The US government determined Wednesday it would maintain the existing antidumping duty (AD) orders on carbon steel butt-weld pipe fittings from China, Brazil, Japan and Thailand.

The US International Trade Commission (ITC) concluded in a ruling that revoking the current antidumping and countervailing duty orders on carbon steel butt-weld pipe fittings from those countries would be likely to lead to continuation or recurrence of material injury within a reasonably foreseeable time.

It has been the fourth "sunset review" since the United States issued AD orders on carbon steel butt-weld pipe fittings from those countries from 1986 to 1992. The AD margins on the products from the mainland and Taiwan are 182.9 percent and 87.3 percent separately.

A "sunset review" was conducted every five years after anti-dumping and countervailing duties were introduced. The Uruguay Round Agreements Act requires the US Department of Commerce 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 likely lead to the continuation or recurrence of dumping or subsidies and of material injury within a reasonably foreseeable time.

The Chinese Ministry of Commerce has repeatedly urged the United States to abide by its commitment against trade protectionism and work together with China and other members of the international community to maintain a free, open and just international trade environment.