EU imposes import tariffs on ceramic tiles from China
September 19, 2011 Category Foreign trade, Weekly
The new import tariffs imposed by the European Union (EU) on ceramic tiles made in China will keep more than 1,000 Chinese exporters out of the European market, Guo Cheng, Vice Director of the Information Department of the China Ceramics Industrial Association (CCIA) said. Chinese exporters of bathroom, kitchen and paving tiles will face anti-dumping duties ranging from 26.3% to 69.7%. 121 tile makers will still pay the normal tax rate. The EU initiated an anti-dumping investigation of Chinese-made ceramic tiles in June, 2010. The investigation involved exports worth USD310 million and more than 1,400 exporters mainly from Guangdong province. “We will take our chances with a Sunset Review in the coming years to protect the domestic tile industry,” Guo said. A Sunset Review is a review of anti-dumping verdicts after the exported product has been taxed for five years to decide whether to extend or stop the tariff. “China’s tile exports to European markets have increased by only 1% since the European debt crisis, while the sales of European tile producers dropped by more than 40%. The debt crisis and the growing cost of fuel, power and transportation are responsible for the EU’s shrinking tile industry,” CCIA Director Lan Weibing told the industry portal www.ceramicschina.com
• The U.S. Senate will try to pass legislation in coming weeks aimed at forcing China to stop keeping its currency below market value, Democratic Senator Harry Reid said. Many U.S. lawmakers and economists say China deliberately undervalues the yuan against the U.S. dollar to give its companies an unfair price advantage in international trade. China rejects this criticism, and the Chinese Foreign Ministry urged U.S. lawmakers not to resort to “excuses” for trade protectionism.
• China’s pork imports are likely to hit a record this year. “China imported about 400,000 tons of pork and pork offal in the first five months of this year, up 43% year-on- year, and imports will probably hit a record 1 million tons this year,” according to Ma Chuang, Deputy Secretary General of the China Animal Agriculture Association. The imports are not expected to have a major impact on surging domestic prices because imports only account for a very small share of China’s huge pork consumption.
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