China Steel Trailer Wheels: Commerce Finds Winter Wheels for Passenger Vehicle Use Exempt From AD/CV Duties

Winter snow wheels imported by Allied Wheel for use on passenger vehicles are not subject to antidumping and countervailing duties on steel wheels 12 to 16.5 inches in diameter from China (A-570-090/C-570-091), the Commerce Department said in a Dec. 16 scope ruling. The scope of the AD/CVD orders is meant to cover trailer wheels, and Allied Wheel’s winter snow wheels aren’t suitable for trailer use, Commerce said.

The scope of the AD/CVD orders on steel wheels 12 to 16.5 inches in diameter says it does “generally” cover wheels for road and highway trailers, and the underlying petition and other documents from the investigation focus on trailer wheels. Indeed, the International Trade Commission called its related injury investigations “steel trailer wheels” from China. But when it issued the AD/CVD orders in September (see 1908300015), Commerce did not include a specific exemption for wheels for passenger vehicles. Citing concerns about enforceability of end-use language, the administrative burden of a certification process and circumvention concerns, Commerce instead decided to “review requests for exclusions” for non-trailer wheels “on a case-by-case basis.”

In Allied Wheel’s case, Commerce found the importer's winter snow wheels are clearly not for trailers, and should not be covered by the AD/CV duty orders. The agency found no information that the wheels are used for any purpose other than on passenger vehicles, nor that they could be used interchangeably with trailer wheels.

Commerce also noted that the wheels have larger offsets than trailer wheels, and are not center mounted so as to allow for brakes, which are a feature of passenger wheels. Trailer wheels are center mounted to support higher carrying capacity, the agency said. Allied Wheel’s winter and snow wheels also have bore hub sizes that are smaller than those used for trailer wheels. And the winter snow wheels also have a lower load capacity than most trailer wheels, indicating they are for use on passenger vehicles, Commerce said.

Email ITTNews@warren-news.com for a copy of this scope ruling.