The European Commission has imposed definitive anti-dumping duties on imports of fused alumina originating from China.
The move was to counter what it described as “unfair trade practices”.
The Commission stated that the duties range between 88.7% and 110.6%, while simultaneously introducing a duty-free tariff quota that allows a limited volume of Chinese imports to enter the European Union (EU) market without customs duties.
It added that all imports exceeding this quota will be subject to anti-dumping duties, with measures to apply for an initial period of five years.
The decision was taken in the interest of the EU “in light of the exceptional circumstances affecting the Union industry”, as well as the downstream processing industries linked to it, the Commission said.
It affirmed that the duties were imposed following an investigation that revealed the existence of unfair trade practices that caused injury to the European industry.
Fused alumina is considered a key material in the production of glass, as well as ceramics, steel, and other metals.
The Commission said that the imposition of these duties will help re-establish fair competitive conditions in the EU market between fused alumina imported from China and domestically produced material.
It continued that the value of the fused alumina market in the EU ranges between €400 and €500 million, out of a total volume estimated at around 380,000 tons.
Imports account for approximately 200,000 tons of this figure, about 160,000 tons of which come from China.
In addition, the fused alumina industry in the EU provides employment for approximately 1000 people, with facilities located in Austria, France, Germany, Hungary, Italy, and Slovenia.