China urges the United States to correct its decision to impose high anti-dumping duties on imports of Chinese steel products, calling the decision "unfair", said a statement by the Chinese Ministry of Commerce on Saturday.

China's Ministry of Commerce released the statement right after the US announced its decision to levy anti-dumping duties and anti-subsidy duties on imports of Chinese stainless steel.

The anti-dumping duties could reach nearly 77 percent, while the anti-subsidy duties range from about 76 percent to 190 percent.

China is disappointed by a series of decisions by the US related to high anti-dumping and anti-subsidy duties on Chinese steel products, and questions its unfair investigation methods, said Wang Hejun, head of the Ministry of Commerce's Trade Remedy and Investigation Bureau.

“The fact is, China is neither dumping these steel products nor providing subsidies to steel products exported to the US. The US has violated WTO rules by neglecting the stipulations of Article 15 in the Protocol on the Accession of the People's Republic of China. It has also failed to give appropriate consideration to abundant proof offered by Chinese companies and has treated them unfairly. This is an act of protectionism. China firmly objects to this practice and will take necessary measures to protect Chinese companies' legal rights.” Wang noted.

According to Article 15 in the Protocol on the Accession of the People's Republic of China, all WTO members must stop discriminative practices against Chinese products and companies by December 11, 2016.

The root cause of the challenges facing the steel sector is the sluggish world economy and shrinking demand, which calls for global cooperation instead of protectionism, Wang added.