February 19, 2016
News Release 16-020
Inv. No(s). 701-TA-551-553 and 731-TA-1307-1308 (Preliminary)
Contact: Peg O'Laughlin, 202-205-1819
USITC Votes to Continue Investigations on Certain New Pneumatic Off-the-Road Tires from India and Sri Lanka; Terminates Investigation on China

The United States International Trade Commission (USITC) today determined that there is a reasonable indication that a U.S. industry is materially injured by reason of imports of certain new pneumatic off-the-road tires from India that are allegedly sold in the United States at less than fair value and subsidized by the governments of India and Sri Lanka.

The Commission further determined that imports of these products from China are negligible.

All six Commissioners voted in the affirmative with respect to India and Sri Lanka and determined that imports under these investigations from China are negligible.

As a result of the Commission’s affirmative determinations, the U.S. Department of Commerce will continue to conduct its investigations on imports of these products from India and Sri Lanka, with its preliminary countervailing duty determinations due on or about April 4, 2016, and its preliminary antidumping duty determinations due on or about June 16, 2016.  As a result of the Commission’s finding of negligibility, the investigations on imports of these products from China will be terminated.

The Commission’s public report Certain New Pneumatic Off-the-Road Tires from China, India, and Sri Lanka (Investigation Nos. 701-TA-551-553 and 731-TA-1307-1308 (Preliminary), USITC Publication 4594, March 2016) will contain the views of the Commission and information developed during the investigations.

The report will be available after March 23, 2016.  After that date, it may be accessed on the USITC website at:  http://pubapps.usitc.gov/applications/publogs/qry_publication_loglist.asp.


UNITED STATES INTERNATIONAL TRADE COMMISSION
Office of Industries
Washington, DC 20436

FACTUAL HIGHLIGHTS

Certain New Pneumatic Off-The-Road Tires from China, India, and Sri Lanka
Investigation Nos. 701-TA-551-553 and 731-TA-1307-1308 (Preliminary)

Product Description: New pneumatic off-the-road (OTR) tires are typically heavy-duty tires of various types and sizes designed for use principally on vehicles and implements in the agricultural, mining and construction, and other industrial sectors. OTR tires may be either tube-type or tubeless, radial, or non-radial in construction, and produced for sale in the original equipment and replacement markets, whether or not mounted to wheels or rims; however, only the tire is covered by the investigative scope. Subject OTR tire sizes and specifications are reported in sections of the Tire and Rim Association Year Book. Excluded from the scope are mining and construction tires of 39 inch rim diameter and above, on-road consumer and commercial tires bearing the symbol DOT, tires that are not new, solid tires, and certain other tires including those for use on ATVs.  Chinese unmounted OTR tires subject to existing AD/CVD orders are also 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 of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania Pittsburgh, PA.
3. Preliminary investigations instituted by the USITC: January 8, 2016.
4. Commission’s conference: January 29, 2016.
5. USITC vote: February 19, 2016.
6. USITC determinations to the U.S. Department of Commerce: February 24, 2016.
7. USITC views to the U.S. Department of Commerce: March 2, 2016.

U.S. Industry:
1. Number of producers in 2015: Five.
2. Location of producers’ plants:  Illinois, Iowa, Kansas, Ohio, Pennsylvania, and Tennessee.
3. Employment of production and related workers in 2015: [1]
4. Apparent U.S. consumption in 2014: $2.4 billion.
5. Ratio of the value of total U.S. imports to total U.S. consumption in 2014: 48 percent.

U.S. Imports:
1. From the subject countries during 2014:  $238 million.
2. From other countries during 2014:  $891 million.


[1] Withheld to avoid disclosure of business proprietary information.

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