Are Chinese Bricks Dodging Duties With a Pinch of Alumina?
Published Date: 11/10/2026
Notice
Summary
The U.S. Department of Commerce is checking if certain magnesia carbon bricks from China that have a tiny bit of alumina are sneaking around existing trade rules. This affects Chinese brick exporters and U.S. brick makers who want fair trade. Starting November 10, 2026, this inquiry could lead to new duties or rules that impact prices and imports.
Analyzed Economic Effects
4 provisions identified: 0 benefits, 3 costs, 1 mixed.
Country‑wide inquiry on bricks with trace alumina
The Department of Commerce is initiating a country‑wide circumvention inquiry into chemically bonded magnesia carbon refractory bricks produced in China that contain alumina greater than 0 but less than 5 percent by weight. The scope requires the bricks to have at least 70 percent magnesia (MgO) by weight and carbon levels from trace amounts up to 30 percent by weight. The inquiry will examine whether these imports are circumventing existing antidumping and countervailing duty orders on Chinese magnesia carbon bricks.
Suspension of liquidation and cash deposits applied
Commerce notified U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) to continue suspension of liquidation for entries already suspended under the Orders and to apply the cash deposit rates that would apply if these bricks are found covered by the Orders. If Commerce issues an affirmative preliminary or final circumvention determination, CBP will also be instructed to suspend liquidation and apply cash deposits for unliquidated entries on or after the notice of initiation; Commerce may apply suspension to some entries prior to initiation but not to entries before November 4, 2021.
Timing for preliminary and final decisions
Commerce intends to issue a preliminary circumvention determination no later than 150 days after the notice of initiation, and a final determination no later than 300 days after initiation. The notice of initiation is published November 10, 2026, so those timeframes set the target windows for preliminary and final action.
Commerce will request production and shipment details from Chinese firms
Consistent with prior country‑wide inquiries, Commerce intends to solicit information from certain companies in China about their production of bricks with trace alumina and shipments to the United States. Those companies may receive information requests as part of the inquiry.
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Key Dates
Department and Agencies
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