Brussels, 29/09/2003 (Agence Europe) - The Union has decided to extend the definitive antidumping duty of 28% to imports of certain zinc oxides originating in China. The measure, introduced in March 2002, is henceforth applicable to imports of the same products consigned from Vietnam whether or not they have been declared as originating from this country, and to imports of the same zinc oxides mixed with silica originating from China, it is indicated in the Council regulation published in the Official Journal L232. Results of the nine-month Commission inquiry show, as Eurométaux points out, that a change has occurred in the configuration of zinc oxide trade since European surtax was imposed on the Chinese imports, mainly with a sharp rise in imports of zinc oxide from Vietnam and, at the same time, a substantial fall in imports originating from China. They also show that "this marked change in trade flows undermined the remedial effects of the anti-dumping measures in terms of quantities imported into the Community market", as stated in the Council regulation, which concludes there was circumvention of European measures in so far as the zinc oxides were sold mixed with silica in the sole aim of changing tariff category and escaping duties. The decision was then taken to extend rights, thus circumvented, to the same products from Vietnam or mixed, while providing for the possibility for exporters who have nothing to do with such practices or incriminated companies, to solicit exemption from Community measures.