EC ends dumping probe
BRUSSELS, Belgium-The European Commission has dropped a bid to impose anti-dumping duties on Egyptian and Russian carbon black producers. The Feb. 19 proposal failed to win majority support from the European Union's Council of Ministers representing the 15 Member States, according to an EC spokeswoman.
The decision ends a probe that began in December 2001 following a complaint by carbon black producers Cabot Europe Ltd. of France; Columbian Chemicals Europa GmbH of Germany; and Degussa A.G. of Germany.
SSL to close condom plant
LONDON-SSL International P.L.C. will close its Avanti polyurethane condoms facility in Cambridge, England, in April and transfer the testing and packing operation to its TTK-LIG Ltd. joint venture in India.
The closing will mean the loss of 51 jobs in England, though SSL said it will continue to operate its main condom production site at Cambridge Science Park.
High labor and overhead costs made continuing production in Cambridge no longer financially viable, the health care group said.