WASHINGTON, Dec. 15 (Xinhua) -- The U.S. International Trade Commission on Friday approved an anti-dumping investigation into coated free sheet paper from China, Indonesia and South Korea.

    The commission said there was a reasonable indication that coated paper imports from China, Indonesia and South Korea have materially injured or threatened with material injury a U.S. industry due to the three government's subsidies.

    The decision was the result of a voting of 4-1, said a statement released by the ITC.

    As a result of the determination, the U.S. Commerce Department will continue to conduct its investigation of imports of coated paper from the three Asia nations, with its preliminary countervailing duty determinations due on or about Jan. 24, 2007, said the statement.

    Once the Commerce Department makes its preliminary determination, U.S. Customs and Border Protection will begin to require importers to pay cash deposit or post a bond equal to the estimated dumping margin.

    Some analysts said the entire investigative process would take approximately one year.