The Mexican Ministry of Economy will begin an antidumping investigation into the imports of coated flat steel products from China and Taiwan, regardless of the country of origin, it said Thursday in a statement published in the country's official gazette.

Steelmakers Ternium and Tenigal had petitioned the government to launch the investigation.

"During the period from January 2012 to April 2015, imports of coated flat steel in conditions of price discrimination originating in China and Taiwan increased considerably, both in absolute terms and relative to production and consumption, which caused damage to the domestic industry," the companies charged in their petition.

The investigation is set to examine imports during May 2014-April 2015 and analyze any injury to the Mexican industry between May 2012 and April 2015.