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The United Kingdom is set to impose anti-dumping duties of up to 29 percent on aluminum extrusions from China to protect domestic producers.

Aluminum extrusions - they are used widely in the transport, construction and electronics industries - are being dumped in Britain at lower prices than they are sold in China, the Trade Remedies Authority said in an interim report.

"The TRA determined that there is already damage to the UK industry, having found clear evidence of price undercutting, indicating that UK businesses are struggling to compete with the dumped imports," it said.

Provisional measures will thus be imposed as the authority completes its investigation, requiring Chinese companies exporting to Britain to provide a bank guarantee beginning on May 28.

Duties ranging from 7.3 percent to 29.1 percent have been recommended, depending on the company and the level of dumping margin.

The European Union is meanwhile launching a drive to restart domestic output of magnesium, which is used in aluminum and steel products. At least three firms are working on projects.

A European Commission staff working document places a new emphasis on magnesium and a target of cutting dependence on major producer China, saying investment of up to 2 billion euros (HK$16.5 billion) will be needed to restart smelting activity in Europe by 2025.

Aluminium ingots at a stockyard in Wuxi. Bloomberg

China in UK sights for duties on aluminum