The U.S. Commerce Department announced its preliminary determination Friday in an anti-dumping duty (AD) investigation against imports of steel products from China, Germany, Japan, South Korea and Sweden, signaling that it may pose punitive duties on the products. The U.S. Commerce found the non-oriented electrical steel (NOES) from China were sold at dumping margins of 407.52 percent. The dumping margins of the other four countries' products were from 6.91 percent to 204.79 percent. As a result of the determinations, the Commerce Department will ask U.S. Customs and Border Protection to require cash deposits based on these preliminary rates. The Commerce launched AD and countervailing duty (CVD) investigations against NOES imports from China in November 2013, in response to a request from AK Steel Corporation, a U.S. steel producer based in the state of Ohio. The department announced its preliminary affirmative determination in a CVD investigation in March. The Commerce will make its final determination for China in July. Punitive duties would be imposed after both the Commerce Department and the U.S. International Trade Commission (USITC) make final rulings. The USITC is scheduled to make a final determinations for China in September. NOES is typically used in the production of large and small motors, generators, lighting ballasts and ignition coils. In 2013, imports of NOES from China were at an estimated 20 million U.S. dollars, according to the Commerce Department. The Chinese Ministry of Commerce has repeatedly urged the United States to abide by its commitment against protectionism and work together with China and other members of the international community to maintain a free, open and just international trade environment.