The investigation comes amid ongoing US trade negotiations with China and the pending passage of new trade agreement with Mexico and Canada.

"Today, the US Department of Commerce announced the initiation of new antidumping duty (AD) and countervailing duty (CVD) investigations to determine whether fabricated structural steel from Canada, China, and Mexico is being sold in the United States at less than fair value," the release said on Tuesday.

The investigation will focus on whether Chinese, Mexican and Canadian producers of fabricated steel are receiving unfair governmental subsidies.

The probe was initiated by American Institute of Steel Construction Full Member Subgroup in Chicago earlier in February, according to the release.

At the same time, US International Trade Commission (ITC) will conduct its own separate investigation into whether steel imports from Canada, China and Mexico harm US industry, with preliminary determinations expected on or before March 21, 2019, according to the release. If the ITC determines that "injury of threat of injury" exists, then the Commerce Department investigation will continue, with preliminary antidumping duty and countervailing duty determinations set for May and June of this year respectively