WASHINGTON - The United States said Thursday it would maintain the existing anti-dumping duty on fresh garlic from China, despite Beijing's repeated calls for Washington to drop protectionism.

The US International Trade Commission (ITC) said in a statement that revoking the existing anti-dumping duty order on fresh garlic from China would be likely to lead to continuation or recurrence of material injury within a reasonably foreseeable time. All six commissioners voted in the affirmative.

This is the third five-year review since Nov 16, 1994 when the duty was first introduced. As a result, the existing order on imports of this product from China, which was used principally as a food product and for seasoning, will remain in place. The duty margin runs at 376.67 percent.

Under the Uruguay Round Agreements Act, the US Department of Commerce has to revoke an anti-dumping or countervailing duty order, or terminate a suspension agreement, after five years unless the Commerce and the ITC determine that revoking the order or terminating the suspension agreement would be likely to lead to continuation or recurrence of dumping or subsidies and of material injury within a reasonably foreseeable time.

Trade tensions with China are a particularly sensitive issue as the United States is trying to boost its exports to revitalize a flagging economy and slash the unemployment rate.

Since the 2008 global financial crisis, the United States has stepped up trade pressure on China and imposed punitive tariffs on many items of imports from China, which it said have unfair competitive advantages.

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.