European Union Slaps Duties on Chinese Tile

Brussels, Belgium, Sept. 16, 2011 -- The European Union has imposed new import tariffs on Chinese-made ceramic tiles to protect European producers against illegal dumping.

Chinese exporters of bathroom, kitchen and paving tiles now face anti-dumping duties ranging from 26.3 percent to 69.7% at European borders.

The duties were first announced in July.

“The effects of the imposition of measures can be expected to assist the Union industry, with [a] reduction of the threat of closures and reductions in employment,” the EU said in its official register.

Duties will stay in place for five years, and producers may ask for an extension of the measures beyond 2016.

The 27-state bloc uses about 1 billion square meters of floor and wall tiles every year. About 7% percent come from China.

Europe is the world’s second-biggest producer of ceramic tiles.