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News Release 16-029
Inv. No(s). 701-TA-556 and 731-TA-1311 (Preliminary)
Contact: Peg O'Laughlin, 202-205-1819
The United States International Trade Commission (USITC) today determined that there is a reasonable indication that a U.S. industry is materially injured or threatened with material injury by reason of imports of truck and bus tires from China that are allegedly subsidized and sold in the United States at less than fair value.
Vice Chairman Dean A. Pinkert and Commissioners Irving A. Williamson, David S. Johanson, and Rhonda K. Schmidtlein voted in the affirmative. Chairman Meredith M. Broadbent and Commissioner F. Scott Kieff voted in the negative.
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 China, with its preliminary countervailing duty determination due on or about April 25, 2016, and its preliminary antidumping duty determinations due on or about July 7, 2016.
The Commission’s public report Truck and Bus Tires from China (Investigation Nos. 701-TA-556 and 731-TA-1311 (Preliminary), USITC Publication 4601, March 2016) will contain the views of the Commission and information developed during the investigations.
The report will be available after April 11, 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
Truck and Bus Tires from China
Investigation Nos. 701-TA-556 and 731-TA-1311 (Preliminary)
Product Description: Truck and bus tires are new pneumatic tires of rubber, designed and approved for use on heavy-duty commercial truck and bus vehicles that transport cargo and passengers on roads and highways. Compared to the lighter on-road consumer tires used on passenger vehicles and commercial light trucks, subject truck and bus tires are heavier, weight-bearing tires containing larger amounts of strong natural rubber and steel reinforcement. Truck and bus tires are produced in a large number of types and sizes, radial or non-radial, tube-type or tubeless, but are predominately of the tubeless, steel belted radial design, and sold in the original equipment and replacement markets. Tires of this nature are found on a large variety of vehicles, from the familiar urban around town haul trucks and passenger buses, to the higher speed, heavy-duty tractor-trailer rigs and passenger buses on highways. The product definition includes both unmounted and mounted tires, however only the tire is covered by the scope.
Status of Proceedings:
1. Type of investigations: Preliminary antidumping and countervailing duty.
2. Petitioner: United Steel, Paper and Forestry, Rubber, Manufacturing, Energy, Allied Industrial and Service Workers International Union, AFL-CIO, CLC (“USW”), Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.
3. Preliminary investigations instituted by the USITC: January 29, 2016.
4. Commission’s conference: February 19, 2016.
5. USITC vote: March 11, 2016.
6. USITC determinations to the U.S. Department of Commerce: March 14, 2016.
7. USITC views to the U.S. Department of Commerce: March 21, 2016.
U.S. Industry:
1. Number of producers in 2015: Four.
2. Location of producers’ plants: Illinois, Kansas, New York, South Carolina, Tennessee, and Virginia.
3. Employment of production and related workers in 2015: 6,423.
4. Apparent U.S. consumption in 2015: $5.9 billion.
5. Ratio of the value of total U.S. imports to total U.S. consumption in 2015: 43 percent.
U.S. Imports:
1. From the subject country during 2015: $1.2 billion.
2. From other countries during 2015: $1.3 billion.
3. Leading nonsubject sources during 2015: Canada, Japan, and Thailand (by quantity).