BEIJING -- China on Friday started levying temporary anti-dumping duties on resorcinol from Japan and the United States by requiring companies to pay deposits for such imports, the Ministry of Commerce said.

The move comes after initial findings of an investigation launched by the ministry in March showed evidence of dumping, the ministry announced in statement.

From Friday, importers of resorcinol from Japan and the United States will be required to pay deposits with Chinese customs ranging from 30.1 percent to 40.5 percent according to the level of dumping, the statement said.

Resorcinol, or M-dihydroxybenzene, is an essential component used to manufacture tires and other fiber-reinforced rubber goods.