WASHINGTON — The International Trade Administration of the U.S. Department of Commerce is recommending that the United States continue to impose duties on wood bedroom furniture produced in China.

The ITA issued the recommendation based on its belief that dumping, or selling of furniture below fair market values, would continue if the order were revoked.

The order stems from a 2003-2004 investigation that showed U.S. manufacturers were harmed by wood bedroom imports sold at below normal market values, which is considered a violation of international trade.

The ITA's recommendation becomes part of the official record that will be considered during the International Trade Commission's full five-year review of the antidumping order. The review, also known as a Sunset Review, begins five years after the anniversary date that final duties were first imposed. The order imposing those duties was signed Dec. 27, 2004.

The ITA performed its own expedited review because it did not receive adequate response from interested parties by Dec. 30. It did receive strong response from parties interested in continuing the imposition of duties.

In its announcement, the ITA said that dumping would likely continue if the antidumping order were revoked. It went on to list the original duty rates assigned to various Chinese manufacturers ranging from .83% to and all-China rate of 198.09%.

The bulk of the duties assigned fall in the 7.24% range, otherwise known as the Section A rate. These duties are paid by the importer of record that brings the products into the country and sells them for use by U.S consumers.