Brake Drums: New AD/CVD Investigations Deadlines & Scope

The Commerce Department issued notices in the Federal Register on its recently initiated antidumping and countervailing duty investigations on brake drums from China and Turkey (A-570-174/C-570-175, A-489-853/C-489-854). The CVD investigations cover entries for the calendar year 2023. The AD investigation on Turkey covers entries April 1, 2023, through March 31, 2024, and the AD investigation on China covers entries Oct. 1, 2023, through March 31, 2024.

The International Trade Commission will conduct a concurrent investigation to determine whether imports of dumped and illegally subsidized brake drums are injuring U.S. industry. If the ITC finds no injury in its preliminary injury determination, due Aug. 5, the investigations will immediately end. If Commerce finds dumping or illegal subsidization in the preliminary determinations of these investigations, due in September for CVD and November for AD, it will set AD and/or CVD cash deposit requirements for imports of merchandise subject to the investigation. If both Commerce and the ITC reach affirmative final determinations, Commerce will issue an AD and/or CVD order making duties permanent and beginning a process of annual administrative reviews to set final assessments of AD/CVD on importers and potentially change AD/CVD cash deposit rates.

AD/CVD Respondent Selection

Commerce will send quantity and value questionnaires to each potential respondent to these AD/CVD investigations, and will base respondent selection on the responses it receives. Exporters that don't get a quantity and value questionnaire can submit one using the forms available on Commerce's website. Responses are due by July 24.

Companies subject to the AD investigation on China also will have to submit a separate rate application to avoid getting the high China-wide rate. Separate rate applications will be due 30 days from the publication date of Commerce's AD initiation notice (i.e., Aug. 16).

Scope of the AD/CVD Investigations

“The merchandise covered by these investigations is certain brake drums made of gray cast iron, whether finished or unfinished, with an actual or nominal inside diameter of 14.75 inches or more but not over 16.6 inches, weighing more than 50 pounds. Unfinished brake drums are those which have undergone some turning or machining but are not ready for installation. Subject brake drums are included within the scope whether imported individually or with non-subject merchandise (for example, a hub), whether assembled or unassembled, or if joined with non-subject merchandise. When a subject drum is imported together with non-subject merchandise, such as, but not limited to, a drum-hub assembly, only the subject drum is covered by the scope.

“Subject merchandise also includes finished and unfinished brake drums that are further processed in a third country or in the United States, including, but not limited to, assembly or any other processing that would not otherwise remove the merchandise from the scope of these investigations if performed in the country of manufacture of the subject brake drums. The inclusion, attachment, joining, or assembly of non-subject merchandise with subject drums either in the country of manufacture of the subject drum or in a third country does not remove the subject drum from the scope. Specifically excluded is merchandise covered by the scope of the antidumping and countervailing duty orders on certain chassis and subassemblies thereof from the People's Republic of China. See Certain Chassis and Subassemblies Thereof from the People's Republic of China: Antidumping Duty Order, 86 FR 36093 (July 8, 2021) and Certain Chassis and Subassemblies Thereof from the People's Republic of China: Countervailing Duty Order and Amended Final Affirmative Countervailing Duty Determination, 86 FR 24844 (May 10, 2021).

“The scope also excludes composite brake drums that contain more than 40 percent steel by weight.

“The merchandise covered by these investigations is classifiable under Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States (HTSUS) subheading 8708.30.5020. The merchandise covered by these investigations may be classifiable under HTSUS subheading 8708.30.5090 when entered as part of an assembly. Subject merchandise may also enter under HTSUS subheading 8716.90.5060. Although the HTSUS subheadings are provided for convenience and customs purposes, the written description of the merchandise covered by these investigations is dispositive.”

Comments on the scope of these investigations are due by 5 p.m. EDT July 30.

Investigations Timetable

These deadlines may be, and usually are, extended. The Commerce Department fact sheet on the initiation of these investigations is (here). See 2407010010 for a summary of the petition requesting these investigations.