A preliminary ruling of the Ministry of Commerce charges that the United States and Japan are unfairly selling a chemical for making dyes and paints.

In a statement Friday the ministry charges that catechol is being dumped on the Chinese market causing substantial damage to the Chinese industry.

China's Ministry of Commerce began its anti-dumping investigation against this imported chemical mainly used in making dyes and paint on May 31, 2005.

According to the preliminary ruling, importers of this chemical from the two countries should offer deposit to Chinese customs at a rate between 6 and 46.81 percent beginning Friday.

Source: Xinhua