On October 8, the European Union (EU) opened an antidumping (AD) investigation into magnesia carbon bricks from China, following a notice of impending expiry of the relevant AD measures in force imposed in 2005.
The request to open the probe was lodged on July 9, 2010 by the Magnesia Bricks Production Defence Coalition (MBPDC) on behalf of producers representing a major proportion, in this case more than 25 percent, of the EU production of certain magnesia bricks.
"The request is based on the grounds that the expiry of the measures would be likely to result in a continuation of dumping and injury to the Union industry," the European Commission said in the Official Journal.
The EU member states have fifteen months to conclude the investigation as to whether to apply definitive levies for five years, following the decision of the European Commission.
As SteelOrbis previously reported, the US Department of Commerce (DOC) published antidumping (AD) orders against magnesia carbon bricks from China, hitting the producers/exporters with levies ranging from 128.10 percent to 236 percent.
The product currently falls within CN codes ex 6815 91 00 (TARIC code 6815 91 00 10), ex 6815 99 10 (TARIC code 6815 99 10 20) and ex 6815 99 90 (TARIC code 6815 99 90 20).
The product is widely used in steel ladles.