The United States Commerce Department on Thursday started anti-dumping duty and countervailing duty investigations against imports of hardwood and plywood from China. Last year, imports of these products from China were worth about $600 million.

The petitioner for the probe is the Coalition for Fair Trade of Hardwood Plywood, which is asking for an over 300 percent anti-dumping and countervailing duty on China’s hardwood and plywood imports.

The US International Trade Commission is scheduled to make a preliminary injury determination next month before the Commerce Department makes further probes.