Oct. 27 (Bloomberg) -- The U.S. Commerce Department imposed preliminary duties of as much as 12 percent on $269 million of imports of steel grating and wire strand from China.

In two separate decisions announced today, the U.S. said the producers are receiving illegal subsidies from the Chinese government, backing petitions by companies including Insteel Industries Inc., American Spring Wire Corp. and Sumiden Wire Products Corp.

Makers of steel grating will face tariffs of 7.4 percent, the Commerce Department said in an e-mailed statement today. Importers of concrete steel wire strand, which is used to reinforce concrete construction applications, will face anti- subsidy duties ranging from 7.5 percent to 12 percent.

The decisions announced today are preliminary, and both the Commerce Department and U.S. International Trade Commission will need to make final rulings before the tariffs are decided. While those decisions are pending, importers must deposit the preliminary duty with U.S. Customs.

Both products also face separate antidumping complaints.

To contact the reporter on this story: Mark Drajem in Washington at mdrajem@bloomberg.net

Last Updated: October 27, 2009 15:00 EDT