August 26, 2010
News Release 10-094
Inv. Nos. 701-TA-468 and 731-TA-1166-1167 (Final)
Contact: Peg O'Laughlin, 202-205-1819

The United States International Trade Commission (USITC) today determined 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 the U.S. Department of Commerce (Commerce) has determined are subsidized and from China and Mexico that Commerce has determined are sold in the United States at less than fair value.

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

As a result of the USITC's affirmative determinations, Commerce will issue a countervailing duty order on imports of these products from China and antidumping duty orders on imports of these products from China and Mexico.

The Commission's public report Certain Magnesia Carbon Bricks from China and Mexico (Investigation Nos. 701-TA-468 and 731-TA-1166-1167 (Final), USITC Publication 4182, September 2010) will contain the views of the Commissioners and information developed during the investigations.

Copies may be obtained after September 28, 2010, by emailing pubrequest@usitc.gov, calling 202-205-2000, or by writing the Office of the Secretary, 500 E Street SW, Washington, DC 20436. Requests may also be made by fax 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.  Types of investigations:  Final antidumping and countervailing duty.
2.  Petitioners:  Resco Products Inc., (Resco), Pittsburgh, PA.
3.  Investigations instituted by USITC: July 29, 2009.
4.  Hearing: July 27, 2010.
5.  USITC vote: August 26, 2010.
6.  USITC notification of Department of Commerce: September 8, 2010.

U.S. Industry:

1.  Number of U.S. firms involved in production of magnesite carbon bricks in 2009: 4.
2.  Production volume is concentrated in Michigan, Pennsylvania, and Indiana.
3.  Employment of production and related workers in 2009: 92
4.  U.S. producers' shipments in 2009: 42,243 short tons.
5.  U.S. apparent consumption in 2009: (1)
6.  Ratio of quantity of total imports to U.S. apparent consumption in 2009:
	China - 67.3 percent
        Mexico (1) 

U.S. Imports:
1.  Quantity of subject imports in 2009: 
	China - 33,643 short tons
        Mexico (1)
2.  Value of subject imports in 2009:    
	China - $27 million 
        Mexico (1)

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