August 3, 2021
News Release 21-100
Inv. No(s). 701-TA-468 and 731-TA-1166-1167 (Second Review)
Contact: Peg O'Laughlin, 202-205-1819
USITC Makes Determinations in Five-Year (Sunset) Reviews Concerning Certain Magnesia Carbon Bricks from China and Mexico

The U.S. International Trade Commission (USITC) today determined that revoking the existing antidumping duty orders on imports of certain magnesia carbon bricks from China and Mexico and the existing countervailing duty order on imports of this product from China would be likely to lead to continuation or recurrence of material injury within a reasonably foreseeable time. 

As a result of the Commission’s affirmative determinations, the existing orders on imports of this product from China and Mexico will remain in place. 

Chair Jason E. Kearns, Vice Chair Randolph J. Stayin, and Commissioners David S. Johanson, Rhonda K. Schmidtlein, and Amy A. Karpel voted in the affirmative.

Today’s action comes under the five-year (sunset) review process required by the Uruguay Round Agreements Act.  See the attached page for background on these five-year (sunset) reviews.

The Commission’s public report Certain Magnesia Carbon Bricks from China and Mexico (Inv. Nos. 701-TA-468 and 731-TA-1166 and 1167 (Second Review), USITC Publication 5223, August 2021) will contain the views of the Commission and information developed during the reviews.

The report will be available by September 7, 2021; when available, it may be accessed on the USITC website at: https://www.usitc.gov/commission_publications_library.


BACKGROUND

The Uruguay Round Agreements Act requires the Department of Commerce to revoke an antidumping or countervailing duty order, or terminate a suspension agreement, after five years unless the Department of Commerce and the USITC determine that revoking the order or terminating the suspension agreement would be likely to lead to continuation or recurrence of dumping or subsidies (Commerce) and of material injury (USITC) within a reasonably foreseeable time.

The Commission’s institution notice in five-year reviews requests that interested parties file responses with the Commission concerning the likely effects of revoking the order under review as well as other information.  Generally within 95 days from institution, the Commission will determine whether the responses it has received reflect an adequate or inadequate level of interest in a full review.  If responses to the USITC’s notice of institution are adequate, or if other circumstances warrant a full review, the Commission conducts a full review, which includes a public hearing and issuance of questionnaires.

The Commission generally does not hold a hearing or conduct further investigative activities in expedited reviews.  Commissioners base their injury determination in expedited reviews on the facts available, including the Commission’s prior injury and review determinations, responses received to its notice of institution, data collected by staff in connection with the review, and information provided by the Department of Commerce.

The five-year (sunset) reviews concerning Certain Magnesia Carbon Bricks from China and Mexico were instituted on January 4, 2020.

On April 9, 2021, the Commission voted to conduct expedited reviews. Commissioners Rhonda K. Schmidtlein, Jason E. Kearns, Randolph J. Stayin, and Amy A. Karpel concluded that the domestic group response was adequate and the respondent group responses were inadequate and voted for expedited reviews.  Commissioner David S. Johanson concluded that the domestic group response was adequate and the respondent group responses were inadequate, but that circumstances warranted full reviews.

A record of the Commission’s vote to conduct expedited reviews is available from the Office of the Secretary, U.S. International Trade Commission, 500 E Street SW, Washington, DC 20436.  Requests may be made by telephone by calling 202-205-1802.

# # #
August 26, 2010
News Release 10-094
Inv. No(s). 701-TA-468 and 731-TA-1166-1167 (Final)
Contact: Peg O'Laughlin, 202-205-1819
Certain Magnesia Carbon Bricks from China and Mexico Injure U.S. Industry, Says USITC

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.


UNITED STATES INTERNATIONAL TRADE COMMISSION
Office of Industries
Washington, DC 20436

FACTUAL HIGHLIGHTS

Certain Magnesia Carbon Bricks from China and Mexico
Investigation Nos. 701-TA-468 and 731-TA-1166 and 1167 (Final)

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.

-- 30 --

# # #
January 5, 2016
News Release 16-005
Inv. No(s). 701-TA-468 and 731-TA-1166-1167 (Review)
Contact: Peg O'Laughlin, 202-205-1819
USITC Makes Determinations in Five-Year (Sunset) Reviews Concerning Certain Magnesia Carbon Bricks from China and Mexico

The U.S. International Trade Commission (USITC) today determined that revoking the existing antidumping and countervailing duty orders on certain magnesia carbon bricks from China and Mexico would be likely to lead to continuation or recurrence of material injury within a reasonably foreseeable time. 

As a result of the Commission’s affirmative determinations, the existing antidumping and countervailing duty orders on imports of these products from China and Mexico will remain in place. 

All six Commissioners voted in the affirmative. 

Today’s action comes under the five-year (sunset) review process required by the Uruguay Round Agreements Act.  See the attached page for background on these five-year (sunset) reviews.

The Commission’s public report Certain Magnesia Carbon Bricks from China and Mexico (Inv. Nos. 701-TA-468 and 731-TA-1166-1167 (Review), USITC Publication 4589, January 2016) will contain the views of the Commission and information developed during the reviews.

The report will be available by February 5, 2016; when available, it may be accessed on the USITC website at: http://pubapps.usitc.gov/applications/publogs/qry_publication_loglist.asp.


BACKGROUND

The Uruguay Round Agreements Act requires the Department of Commerce to revoke an antidumping or countervailing duty order, or terminate a suspension agreement, after five years unless the Department of Commerce and the USITC determine that revoking the order or terminating the suspension agreement would be likely to lead to continuation or recurrence of dumping or subsidies (Commerce) and of material injury (USITC) within a reasonably foreseeable time.

The Commission’s institution notice in five-year reviews requests that interested parties file responses with the Commission concerning the likely effects of revoking the order under review as well as other information.  Generally within 95 days from institution, the Commission will determine whether the responses it has received reflect an adequate or inadequate level of interest in a full review.  If responses to the USITC’s notice of institution are adequate, or if other circumstances warrant a full review, the Commission conducts a full review, which includes a public hearing and issuance of questionnaires.

The Commission generally does not hold a hearing or conduct further investigative activities in expedited reviews.  Commissioners base their injury determination in expedited reviews on the facts available, including the Commission’s prior injury and review determinations, responses received to its notice of institution, data collected by staff in connection with the review, and information provided by the Department of Commerce.

The five-year (sunset) reviews concerning Certain Magnesia Carbon Bricks from China and Mexico were instituted on August 3, 2015.

On November 6, 2015, the Commission voted to conduct expedited reviews.  All six Commissioners concluded that the domestic group response for these reviews was adequate and the respondent group responses were inadequate and voted for expedited reviews.

A record of the Commission’s vote to conduct expedited reviews is available from the Office of the Secretary, U.S. International Trade Commission, 500 E Street SW, Washington, DC 20436.  Requests may be made by telephone by calling 202-205-1802.

# # #
November 6, 2015
News Release 15-105
Inv. No(s). 701-TA-468 and 731-TA-1167-1168 (Review)
Contact: Peg O'Laughlin, 202-205-1819
USITC Will Expedite Five-Year (Sunset) Reviews Concerning Magnesia Carbon Bricks from China and Mexico

The U.S. International Trade Commission (USITC or Commission) has voted to expedite its five-year (“sunset”) reviews concerning the countervailing duty order on magnesia carbon bricks from China and the antidumping duty orders on imports of this product from China and Mexico.

As a result of these votes, the Commission will conduct expedited reviews to determine whether revocation of these orders would be likely to lead to continuation or recurrence of material injury within a reasonably foreseeable time.

The Uruguay Round Agreements Act requires the Department of Commerce to revoke an antidumping or countervailing duty order, or terminate a suspension agreement, after five years unless the Department of Commerce and the USITC determine that revoking the order or terminating the suspension agreement would be likely to lead to continuation or recurrence of dumping or subsidies (Commerce) and of material injury (USITC) within a reasonably foreseeable time.

The Commission’s notice of institution in five-year reviews requests that interested parties file with the Commission responses that discuss the likely effects of revoking the order under review and provide other pertinent information.  Generally within 95 days from institution, the Commission will determine whether the responses it has received reflect an adequate or inadequate level of interest in a full review.  If responses to the USITC's notice of institution are adequate, or if other circumstances warrant a full review, the Commission conducts a full review, which includes a public hearing and issuance of questionnaires.

The Commission generally does not hold a hearing or conduct further investigative activities in expedited reviews.  Commissioners base their injury determinations in expedited reviews on the facts available, including the Commission’s prior injury and review determinations, responses received to its notice of institution, data collected by staff in connection with the reviews, and information provided by the Department of Commerce.

All six Commissioners concluded that the domestic group response for these reviews was adequate and the respondent group responses were inadequate and voted for expedited reviews.

A record of the Commission’s votes on these matters is available from the Office of the Secretary, U.S. International Trade Commission, 500 E Street SW, Washington, DC  20436.  Requests may be made by telephone by calling 202-205-1802.

The record of the Commission's votes is also posted on the USITC's Internet site at http://pubapps2.usitc.gov/sunset/caseProf/list?sort=caseTitle&order=asc.  From this page, search "magnesia carbon bricks" using the search box in the upper right corner.

The Federal Register notice will indicate whether any further information or statements will be available.  Only parties that filed adequate responses and filed timely notices of appearance are eligible to participate further in these reviews.  The Commission will issue a report after it completes its reviews.

# # #