Utah Company Files AD Petition on Silica Refractory Bricks from China
Utah Refractories Corp. filed a petition requesting antidumping duties on silica refractory bricks and other shapes from China (A-570-988), alleging that the merchandise is being sold in the U.S. at less than fair value. According to the petition, Chinese silica bricks are being dumped in the U.S. at rates of 190 percent to 467 percent.
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The entire U.S. silica brick industry for coke ovens has been driven out of business by dumped Chinese imports, Utah Refractory said. Now the only remaining producer of the product in the U.S., Utah Refractories' sales of silica bricks to the U.S. coke oven industry have plummeted to almost nothing since 2008, it said. Meanwhile, Chinese imports have steadily increased from 28 percent of total imports to the U.S. in 2005 to 49.5 percent of total imports in 2011, the company said. “Based on petitioner’s conversations with leading coke oven operators in the United States, the decision to source supply of [silica refractory bricks] from Chinese producers rather than petitioner was based almost entirely on the dramatically lower prices offered by the Chinese producers,” Utah Refractories said.
Utah Refractories said it meets the domestic support requirement for the petition because it is the only U.S. producer left. The petition requested the International Trade Administration use Ukraine as the surrogate country. Salt Lake City-based law firm Ray Quinney & Nebeker is representing Utah Refractories in the proceeding.
Silica Bricks Used in Coke Ovens, Glass Furnace Crowns
Silica refractory bricks are used in coke ovens and glass furnace crowns because of their stability at high temperatures, Utah Refractories said. Other uses for the product include glass tank walls, acid practice electric furnaces, tunnel kilns, and regenerators. The petition requests that the scope of the investigation includes “objects, such as bricks and other shapes, containing at least 90 percent silica, also known as silicon dioxide (‘SiO2’), regardless of other materials in the bricks or shapes.” The merchandise enters under Harmonized Tariff Schedule number 6902.20.10.20, the company said.
The ITA is accepting comments on domestic industry support for the petition to determine whether the petition meets the dual requirements of support by domestic producers or workers accounting for (1) at least 25% of the total production of the domestic like product and (2) more than 50% of the production of the domestic like product produced by that portion of the industry expressing support for, or opposition to, the petition. If the petition meets these requirements, among others, the International Trade Administration will initiate an antidumping investigation of silica refractory bricks from China. Comments are due by about Dec. 5.
Email ITTNews@warren-news.com for a copy of the petition, which is also available on the ITA’s IAACCESS database here by searching for the case number (A-570-988).
ITC notice of receipt of the petition available here.