Petition Filed for New AD/CV Duties on Trailer Wheels From China
A domestic manufacturer is seeking the imposition of antidumping and countervailing duties on steel wheels 12 to 16.5 inches in diameter from China, it said in a petition filed Aug. 9 with the Commerce Department and the International Trade Commission. The petition specifically targets steel wheels sold for use with trailers, including utility trailers, cargo trailers, horse trailers, boat trailers, recreational trailers and towable mobile homes. Commerce will now decide whether to begin AD/CVD investigations that could eventually result in the assessment of AD/CV duties.
The earliest date that liquidation could be suspended and countervailing duty cash deposits required in connection with these investigations is Aug. 28, 2018, an update from law firm Grunfeld Desiderio said. For antidumping duties, it's Oct. 17, 2018. Both of these estimates presume a finding of "critical circumstances" with retroactive suspension of liquidation 90 days prior to Commerce's preliminary determination, and no extensions of Commerce's deadlines.
Proposed Scope
The petition proposes the following scope for the investigations:
The scope of this investigation is certain on-the-road steel wheels, and components thereof, for tubeless tires with a nominal wheel diameter of 12 inches to 16.5 inches, regardless of width. Certain on-the-road steel wheels with a wheel diameter of 12 inches to 16.5 inches within the scope are generally for road and highway trailers and other towable equipment, including, inter alia, utility trailers, cargo trailers, horse trailers, boat trailers and recreational trailers. Rims may be entered separately and sold to towable mobile home customers where the rim will be mounted to the wheel hub without a disc. The standard widths of certain on-the-road steel wheels are 4 inches, 4.5 inches, 5 inches, 5.5 inches, 6 inches, and 6.5 inches, but all certain on-the-road steel wheels, regardless of width, are covered by the scope.
The scope includes rims and discs for certain on-the-road steel wheels, whether imported as an assembly, unassembled, or separately. The scope includes certain on-the-road steel wheels regardless of steel composition, whether cladded or not cladded, whether finished or not finished, and whether coated or uncoated. The scope also includes certain on-the-road steel wheels with discs in either a “hub-piloted” or “stud-piloted” mounting configuration, though the stud-piloted configuration is most common in the size range covered.
All on-the-road wheels sold in the United States must meet Standard 110 or 120 of the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s (NHTSA) Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards, which require a rim marking, such as the “DOT” symbol, indicating compliance with applicable motor vehicle standards. See 49 C.F.R. § 571.110 and § 571.120. The scope includes certain on-the-road steel wheels imported with or without NHTSA’s required markings.
Certain on-the-road steel wheels imported as an assembly with a tire mounted on the wheel and/or with a valve stem or rims imported as an assembly with a tire mounted on the rim and/or with a valve stem are included in the scope of this investigation. However, if the steel wheels or rims are imported as an assembly with a tire mounted on the wheel or rim and/or with a valve stem attached, the tire and/or valve stem is not covered by the scope.
Excluded from this scope are the following: Steel wheels for tube-type tires; such tires use multi-piece rims, which are two-piece and three-piece assemblies and require the use of an inner tube. Also excluded from this scope are aluminum wheels and certain on-the-road steel wheels that are coated with chrome. Steel wheels that do not meet Standard 110 or 120 of the NHTSA’s requirements are excluded from the scope.
Certain on-the-road steel wheels subject to this investigation are properly classifiable under the following category of the Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States (“HTSUS”): 8716.90.5035, which covers the exact product covered by the scope whether entered as an assembled wheel or in components. Wheels entered with a tire mounted on them are believed entered under HTS 8716.90.50.59 (Trailers and semi-trailers; other vehicles, not mechanically propelled, parts, wheels, other, wheels with other tires) (a category that will be broader than what is covered by the scope). While the HTSUS subheading is provided for convenience and customs purposes, the written description of the subject merchandise is dispositive.
Commerce Accepting Comments on Petition Support
The Commerce Department is accepting comments on domestic industry support for the petitions to determine whether the petitions meet the dual requirements of support by domestic producers or workers accounting for (1) at least 25% of the total production of the domestic-like product and (2) more than 50% of the production of the domestic-like product produced by that portion of the industry expressing support for, or opposition to, the petition. If the petitions meet these requirements, among others, Commerce will initiate antidumping and countervailing duty investigations. Comments are due Aug. 29.
Email ITTNews@warren-news.com for a copy of the petition.