The United States International Trade Commission (ITC) today determined that a U.S. industry is not materially injured or threatened with material injury by reason of imports of ball bearings from China that the U.S. Department of Commerce has determined are sold in the United States at less than fair value.

All four Commissioners voted in the negative.

As a result of the Commission's negative determination, no antidumping duties will be imposed on imports of ball bearings from China.

The Commission's public report Ball Bearings from China (Investigation No. 731-TA-989 (Final), USITC Publication 3593, April 2003) will contain the views of the Commission and information developed during the investigation.

Copies may be obtained after May 2, 2003, by calling 202-205-1809 or from the Office of the Secretary, 500 E Street SW, Washington, DC 20436. Requests may also be made by fax to 202- 205-2104.

Product Description: The products covered by this investigation are all antifriction bearings, regardless of size, precision grade, or use, that employ balls as the rolling element (whether ground or unground) and parts thereof (inner ring, outer ring, cage, balls, seals, shields, etc.) that are produced in China. Imports of these products are classified under the following categories: antifriction balls, ball bearings with integral shafts and parts thereof, ball bearings (including thrust, angular contact, and radial ball bearings) and parts thereof, and housed or mounted ball bearing units and parts thereof. All finished parts manufactured in China are included in the scope. With regard to unfinished parts, such parts are included if (1) they have been heat treated or (2) heat treatment is not required to be performed on the part.

Status of Proceedings:
1. Type of investigation: Final antidumping.
2. Petitioners: American Bearing Manufacturers Association (ABMA).
3. Investigation instituted by USITC: February 13, 2002.
4. Hearing: March 6, 2003.
5. USITC vote: April 3, 2003.
6. USITC notification of Department of Commerce: April 14, 2003.

U.S. Industry:
1. Number of responding U.S. ball bearing producers in 2002: 22.
2. Production volume is concentrated in the South Atlantic and Great Lakes states.
3. Employment of production and related workers: 9,932.
4. Value of U.S. producers' shipments of ball bearings in 2002: $1.9 billion.
5. Value of U.S. apparent consumption of ball bearings in 2002: $2.7 billion.
6. Ratio of value of total imports to U.S. apparent consumption for ball bearings in
      2002: 29.6 percent.

U.S. Imports:
1. Quantity of subject imports of ball bearings in 2002: (1) 
2. Value of subject imports of ball bearings in 2002: (1)
3. Value of total imports of ball bearings from China in 2002: $127 million.

(1) Withheld to avoid disclosure of business proprietary information.


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