September 11, 2009
News Release 09-070
Inv. Nos. 701-TA-468 and 731-TA-1166-1167 (P)
Contact: Peg O'Laughlin, 202-205-1819

The United States International Trade Commission (ITC) today determined that there is a reasonable indication that a U.S. industry is materially injured or threatened with material injury by reason of imports of certain magnesia carbon bricks from China that are allegedly subsidized and from China and Mexico that are allegedly sold in the United States at less than fair value.

Commissioners Charlotte R. Lane, Irving A. Williamson, and Dean A. Pinkert voted in the affirmative. Chairman Shara L. Aranoff, Vice Chairman Daniel R. Pearson, and Commissioner Deanna Tanner Okun made affirmative threat determinations with respect to China and negative determinations with respect to Mexico.

As a result of the Commission's affirmative determinations, the U.S. Department of Commerce will continue to conduct its countervailing and antidumping duty investigations on imports of these products from China and Mexico, with its preliminary countervailing duty determination due on or about October 22, 2009, and its preliminary antidumping duty determinations due on or about January 5, 2010.

The Commission's public report Certain Magnesia Carbon Bricks from China and Mexico (Investigation Nos. 701-TA-468 and 731-TA-1166-1167 (Preliminary), USITC Publication 4100, September 2009) will contain the views of the Commission and information developed during the investigations.

Copies of the report are expected to be available after October 12, 2009, by emailing pubrequest@usitc.gov, calling 202-205-2000, or writing to the Office of the Secretary, 500 E Street SW, Washington, DC 20436. Requests may also be faxed to 202-205-2104.

Product Description: The imported products subject to these investigations are certain chemically bonded (resin or pitch), magnesia carbon bricks with a magnesia component of at least 70 percent magnesia ("MgO") by weight, regardless of the source of raw materials for the MgO, with carbon levels ranging from trace amounts to 30 percent by weight, regardless of enhancements, (for example, magnesia carbon bricks can be enhanced with coating, grinding, tar impregnation or coking, high temperature heat treatments, anti-slip treatments or metal casing) and regardless of whether or not anti-oxidants are present (for example antioxidants can be added to the mix from trace amounts to 15 percent by weight as various metals, metal alloys, and metal carbides).

Status of Proceedings:

  1.   Type of investigations:  Preliminary antidumping and countervailing duty.
  2.   Petitioners:  Resco Products Inc., (Resco), Pittsburgh, PA.
  3.   Petition filed:  July 29, 2009. 
  4.   USITC staff conference:  August 19, 2009.
  5.   USITC vote:  September 11, 2009.
  6.   USITC notification of the U.S. Department of Commerce:  September 14, 2009.


U.S. Industry:

  1.   Number of producers and processors of magnesia carbon bricks:  Four.
  2.   Location of producers' plants:  Pennsylvania, Indiana, and Michigan.
  3.   Employment of production and related workers in 2008:  102.
  4.   U.S. producers' U.S. shipments (excluding exports) in 2008:
              62,470 short tons, valued at $76.5 million.
  5.   U.S. apparent consumption in 2008: (1)      
  6.   Ratio of subject imports to U.S. apparent consumption in 2008: (1)


U.S. Imports:

  1.   From the subject countries during 2008: (1)
  2.   From other countries during 2008: (1)
  3.   Leading sources during 2008:  China, Mexico.

(1) Withheld to avoid disclosure of business proprietary information.