WASHINGTON/HANOI, Aug 2 (Reuters) - The U.S. Commerce Department announced on Friday it will continue to classify Vietnam as a non-market economy country, a decision disappointing to Hanoi, which the U.S. has been wooing in its efforts to push back against China.

Vietnam has long sought an upgrade, which would have reduced the punitive anti-dumping duties levied on non-market economies marked by heavy state influence. Only 12 other economies are labeled as non-market by Washington, including China, Russia, North Korea and Azerbaijan.

A change in status has been opposed by U.S. steelmakers, Gulf Coast shrimpers and honey farmers and members of the U.S. Congress representing them, but backed by retailers and some other business groups.

“Today, the U.S. Department of Commerce announced its determination that Vietnam will continue to be classified as a non-market economy country for purposes of calculating U.S. antidumping duties on imports from Vietnam,” the department said in a statement after a year-long review.

“This finding means that the methodology used in calculating U.S. antidumping duties on imports from Vietnam remains the same,” it said.

Vietnam’s Ministry of Industry and Trade said upgrading Vietnam would have been an objective and fair move. “Vietnam regrets that despite several positive improvements in the Vietnamese economy recently, the U.S. Department of Commerce still has not recognized Vietnam as a market economy country,” it said in a statement.