US issues import duties on truck/bus tires from China

Washington — The US Department of Commerce has handed down final countervailing and antidumping duty orders on truck and bus tires from China.

The duties — ranging from 20.98 to 63.34% countervailing and 9 to 22.57% antidumping — take effect immediately, according to notices published in the 15 Feb Federal Register.

The International Trade Commission (ITC) filed the reversal 30 Jan with the US Court of International Trade (CIT).

The commissioners voted 3-2 to find material injury against the domestic tire industry because of government-subsidised truck and bus tire imports from China sold in the US at less than fair value.

On 1 Nov 2018, the CIT reversed and remanded the ITC's February 2017 final negative determination on material injury.

The United Steelworkers union, which had petitioned the ITC for relief against Chinese truck and bus tire imports, filed a complaint in April 2017 with the trade court.

With the publication of the new duties, Customs and Border Protection is ordered to start collecting duties on these imports at the indicated levels.

Guizhou Tyre Import & Export Co. Ltd. and Guizhou Tyre Co. Ltd. received the highest countervailing duty, at 63.34%.

Shanghai Huayi Group Corp. Ltd., Kunlun Tyre Co. Ltd., Double Coin Holdings Ltd. and four other Double Coin companies received countervailing duties of 20.98%.

The "All-Others" rate, covering those companies not specifically identified, was 42.16%.

In terms of antidumping, nearly 300 separate tire importing entities were levied antidumping duties of 9%.

The list included entities bearing such names as Cooper, Michelin, Toyo, Double Coin, Sailun and Triangle, as well as many others.

The "China-Wide Entity" duty level, covering all importers not specifically listed, was 22.57%.