BEIJING (Sept. 2, 2016) — China’s Ministry of Commerce (MOFCOM) is protesting the U.S. Commerce Department’s decision to impose antidumping duties on Chinese truck and bus imports by the U.S. Department of Commerce, reportedly calling the decision an “abuse of trade measures.”

According to news reports of a Ministry press briefing Sept. 2 in Beijing, MOFCOM spokesperson Shen Danyang said Chinese tire companies “strongly oppose the U.S.’s abuse of trade measures.”

Xinhua, China’s official news agency, had already expressed the Chinese government’s displeasure at the Commerce Department decision in an Aug. 30 article.

“China’s Ministry of Commerce has repeatedly urged the United States to abide by its commitment against protectionism and work with China and other members of the international community to maintain a free, open and just international trade environment,” the Xinhua article said.

As of Sept. 2, there was no statement about the Commerce decision posted on the MOFCOM website.

The Aug. 29 Commerce decision levies preliminary antidumping duties against Chinese truck and bus imports ranging from 20.87 to 22.57 percent. These are on top of the preliminary countervailing duties of 17.06 to 23.38 percent levied in June.

Commerce has directed U.S. Customs and Border Protection to collect cash deposits equal to both sets of duties, retroactive 90 days from publication of the duty orders in the Federal Register.

As of Sept. 2, the antidumping duty decision had not been published.

Commerce’s final determination in the antidumping duty investigation is due Jan. 17, 2017. If its final determination is affirmative, the International Trade Commission will make a final ruling on material injury March 3.