Ceramic makers to unite in EU anti-dumping probe

Chinese ceramic makers said Wednesday they would work together to defend themselves in the European Union's anti-dumping investigation into imports of Chinese-made ceramic tiles.

The European Commission said Monday they had started to investigate whether imports of ceramic tiles from China are being dumped on the EU market after a complaint was lodged by the European Ceramic Tile Manufacturers' Federation (CET) in May.

More than 150 representatives from about 100 firms Tuesday gathered in Foshan City, where 80 percent of the 1,400 ceramic producers involved in the probe are located, to discuss ways to deal with the biggest anti-dumping investigation ever into the Chinese ceramic industry, according to the China Ceramics Industry Association (CCIA).

"If the commission thinks the anti-dumping charges are true, a 430.5-percent punitive tariff will be imposed on Chinese ceramic companies, which means the EU's ceramic market would be closed to 'made-in-China' products," said Lan Weibin, director with CCIA's Foshan Office.