Economy

EU reviews anti-dumping duties on furfuraldehyde from China

(Xinhua)
Updated: 2010-04-28 10:50

BRUSSELS: The European Commission on Tuesday launched an expiry review to decide whether to extend the 15-year-old anti-dumping measures against imports of furfuraldehyde from China.

"Having determined that sufficient evidence exists to justify the initiation of an expiry review, the commission hereby initiates a review," the European Union (EU)'s executive arm said in its official journal.

The decision was made after two European producers, namely Lenzing and Slovenia-based Tanin Sevnica kemicna industrija which represent more than half of the EU's production of furfuraldehyde, lodged a request on Jan 28.

They claimed that the expiry of the measures would be likely to result in a continuation of dumping and recurrence of injury to the EU industry.

The EU introduced the anti-dumping measures against Chinese furfuraldehyde in January 1995. It reimposed the duty for four years in December 1999.

In December 2003, the EU launched an expiry review. It decided in April 2005 to extend the duty, which amounted to 352 euros ($470) per ton, for another five years.

Furfuraldehyde is a colorless, sweet-smelling, mobile liquid, made from corncobs and used in the synthesis of furan, as a solvent for nitrocellulose, and as a fungicide and weed killer.