WASHINGTON -- The U.S. Commerce Department has made a final anti-dumping duty determination involving imports of polyester staple fiber (PSF) from China, the local PR Newswire reported Friday.

The department determined that Chinese exporters have sold PSF in the United States at 3.47 to 44.30 percent less than normal value.

The anti-dumping duty investigation began in June 2006 after U.S. producers complained that the weight of imports of Chinese polyester fiber had surged 161 percent between 2003 and 2005.

From 2005 to 2006, imports of PSF from China increased by 18 percent in volume and were valued at an estimated 111 million U.S. dollars in 2006, according to the Commerce Department.

As a result of the department's affirmative determination, the U.S. International Trade Commission (ITC) will continue to conduct its final injury investigation of imports of various PSFs from China, with its final determination due on or around May 18.

Under the law, the ITC examines whether the U.S. industry is injured or threatened with injury by imports of subject merchandise. If the ITC reaffirms the dumping determination, the Commerce Department will issue an anti-dumping duty order on the goods from China.

PSF, which is a man-made fiber, similar in appearance to cotton or wool, is mainly used in sleeping bags, mattresses, ski jackets, comforters, cushions, pillows and furniture.