WASHINGTON, Dec. 13 (Xinhua) -- The U.S. International Trade Commission (USITC) on Friday approved the anti-dumping and countervailing duties investigations against imports of refrigeration products from China.

The products under investigation are refrigeration products whose technical name is 1, 1, 1, 2-Tetrafluoroethane, primarily used in automotive air conditioning systems.

USITC's all six commissioners voted in the affirmative, saying, "There is a reasonable indication that a U.S. industry is materially injured by reason of imports of 1, 1, 1, 2- Tetrafluoroethane from China that are allegedly subsidized and sold in the United States at less than fair value."

As a result of the Commission's affirmative determinations, the U.S. Commerce Department will continue the probes and is expected to make preliminary countervailing and antidumping duty determinations on Jan. 15 and March 31, separately.

The U.S. Commerce Department launched the anti-dumping and countervailing duties probes on Dec.3 requested by Mexichem Fluor, Inc., a refrigerant producer based in the U.S. state of Louisiana.

The Louisiana-based company alleged that these refrigeration products from China were sold below the fair value of the products in the U.S. market with dumping margins at 198.52 percent, and Chinese producers and exporters also received improper government subsidies.

Imports of these products from China were estimated at 53.2 million U.S. dollars last year, according to U.S. official data.

The Chinese Ministry of Commerce has repeatedly urged Washington to abide by its commitment against protectionism and to help maintain a free, open and just international trade environment.