Brussels, 07/02/2008 (Agence Europe) - On Wednesday 6 February, ahead of a meeting of the EU Anti-Dumping Committee, Italian companies Nu Air and FIAC SpA slammed the European Commission's unwillingness to act on Chinese air compressor imports, accusing the Commission of deciding 'not to protect an EU industry because of potential costs to the European consumer'. Air compressors are used for spray painting, pumping up tyres, stapling and nailing. The Italian air compressor manufacturers complain that Chinese state-related exporters have 'effectively conquered the European market through dumping…. They believe that the Commission's refusal to impose EU anti-dumping duties - even though the main criteria have been met - is politically motivated by the view that European consumers have more to gain than producers have to lose.' Both Nu Air and FIAC manufacture some of their air compressor production in China and 'have offered to return their Chinese manufacturing operations to Italy if the European Commission agrees to impose anti-dumping measures which will allow them to return production home under normal economic conditions…. Relocation of a significant portion of its production back to Italy would result in job security for the 500 or more people currently working in the factories making these products, as well as add approximately 500 new positions.' The Italian manufacturers explain: 'In its draft decision proposing to terminate its investigation, which has already lasted 13 months, the European Commission found massive dumping of between 67.4% and 77.6% on the part of the main Chinese state-related exporting companies. These are the highest dumping margins found in the course of any recent investigation by the European Community into Chinese-made products.' The Italian companies are reviewing the option of appealing to the European Court of Justice. (E.H.)