The US Commerce Department on Friday preliminarily determined that China and Indonesia sold monosodium glutamate (MSG), which is often used as a food flavoring, on the US market at less than fair value, signaling that it may impose punitive duties on the product.

The US Commerce Department found the products from China and Indonesia were sold at dumping margins of 52.24 percent to 52.27 percent, and 5.61 percent, respectively. The finding is only preliminary, and the department has until September to make a final ruling.

Punitive duties would be imposed after both the Commerce and the US International Trade Commission (USITC), an independent quasi-judicial federal agency, make affirmative final rulings.