August 20, 2007
News Release 07-086
Inv. Nos. 701-TA-448 and 731-TA-1117 (P)
Contact: Peg O'Laughlin, 202-205-1819

The United States International Trade Commission (ITC) today determined that there is a reasonable indication that an industry in the United States is materially injured or threatened with material injury by reason of imports of certain off-the-road tires from China that are allegedly subsidized and sold in the United States at less than fair value.

All six Commissioners voted in the affirmative.

As a result of the Commission's affirmative determinations, the U.S. Department of Commerce will continue to conduct its investigations of imports of certain off-the-road tires from China.

The Commission's public report Certain Off-the-Road Tires from China, Investigation Nos. 701- TA-450 and 731-TA-1122 (Preliminary), USITC Publication 3943, August 2007) will contain the views of the Commission and information developed during the investigations.

Copies of the report are expected to be available after September 17, 2007, by calling 202-205- 2000 or from the Office of the Secretary, 500 E Street SW, Washington, DC 20436. Requests may also be faxed to 202-205-2104.

Product Description: Certain off-the-road (OTR) tires are new pneumatic tires exclusively designed for off-the-road and off-highway use. Subject OTR tires are typically found on (1) agricultural and forestry equipment (farm tractors and harvesters, agricultural implements, and logging equipment, for example); (2) construction equipment (earthmover articulated dump trucks, front end loaders, and dozers, for example; and (3) industrial equipment (mining vehicles, counterbalanced lift trucks and skid steer/mini-loaders, for example). Subject OTR tires generally, but not exclusively, range in rim diameter from 8 inches to 54 inches; however, OTR tires used for mining and construction vehicles and equipment having rim diameters equal to or exceeding 39 inches are excluded from the scope. Also excluded are aircraft tires, all-terrain vehicle (ATV) tires, and tires used for turf, lawn and garden, golf and trailer applications. All on-the-road vehicle tires (passenger cars, trucks, buses, mobile homes, trailers, motorcycles, and bicycles, for example) are excluded.

Status of Proceedings:

1.  Type of investigations:  Preliminary antidumping and countervailing duty.
2.  Petitioners: Titan Tire Corporation, Des Moines, IA, and The United Steel, Paper and
       Forestry, Rubber, Manufacturing, Energy, Allied Industrial and Service Workers International
       Union, AFL-CIO-CLC, Pittsburgh, PA. 
3.  Preliminary investigations instituted by the USITC:  June 18, 2007.
4.  Commission's conference:  July 9, 2007.
5.  USITC vote:  August 20, 2007.
6.  USITC determinations and views to the U.S. Department of Commerce:  August 27, 2007.


U.S. Industry:

1.  Number of producers in 2006:  Seven.
2.  Location of producers' plants:  Arkansas, Illinois, Iowa, Ohio, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, and
       Tennessee.
3.  Employment of production and related workers in 2006:  3,972.
4.  Apparent U.S. consumption in 2006:  $1.7 billion.
5.  Ratio of the value of total U.S. imports to total U.S. consumption in 2006:  49%.


U.S. Imports:

1.  From the subject countries during 2006:  $306 million (estimated).
2.  From other countries during 2006:  $507 million (estimated).
3.  Leading sources during 2006:  China and Japan (in terms of value, estimated).