TRADE CASES HEADLINESTrade Cases
Commerce to Investigate Magnesia Carbon Bricks from Mexico, P.R. China
Aug. 20, 2009
Dumping occurs when a foreign company sells a product in the United States at less than normal value.
Subsidies are financial assistance from foreign governments that benefit the production, manufacture, or exportation of goods.
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The Department of Commerce announced it will initiate antidumping (AD) and countervailing duty (CVD) investigations on imports of magnesia carbon bricks from Mexico (AD) and P.R. China (AD/CVD). Magnesia carbon bricks are typically used in furnaces primarily for the production of iron and steel.
The Commerce Department’s investigations cover chemically bonded (resin or pitch) magnesia carbon bricks with at least 70% magnesia by weight, and with carbon levels ranging from trace amounts to 30% by weight. The products covered by these investigations are currently classified in the Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States under the categories: 6902.10.10.00, 6902.10.50.00, 6815.91.00.00, and 6815.99.
Imports of some magnesia carbon bricks from China increased 3.78% by volume from 2006 to 2008. In 2008, the imports were valued at an estimated $50.8 million.
Imports of magnesia carbon bricks from Mexico increased 7.66% by volume from 2006 to 2008. They were valued at an estimated $7.7 million in 2008.
The U.S. International Trade Commission (ITC) is scheduled to make its preliminary injury determination on or about September 14. If the ITC determines that there is a reasonable indication of real or threatened material injury to the domestic industry due to these imports, the Commerce Department’s investigations will continue. In that case, Commerce will be scheduled to make its preliminary CVD determination in October, and its preliminary AD determinations in January 2010.
The petitioner for these investigations is Resco Products, Inc., Pa.