WASHINGTON, July 22  -- The U.S. International Trade Commission (USITC) on Tuesday okayed the anti-dumping and countervailing duties investigations against imports of certain passenger vehicle and light truck tires from China.

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 certain passenger vehicle and light truck tires 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 in August and November separately.

The U.S. Commerce Department launched the anti-dumping and countervailing duties probes on July 15 at the request of two U.S labor organizations United Steelworkers and AFL-CIO-CLC.

They alleged that these products from China were sold below the fair value of the products in the U.S. market with dumping margin of 45.80 to 87.99 percent, and Chinese producers and exporters also received improper government subsidies.

Imports of these products from China were estimated at about 2. 1 billion U.S. dollars last year, according to official U.S. data.

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