The U.S. International Trade Commission (ITC) voted 6–0 that American industry was not being injured or threatened with injury from certain steel wheels from China that are being sold at less than fair value in the United States. As a consequence, no duties will be imposed on the imported wheels. The subject wheels range from 18 to 24.5 in. in diameter, and include rims and discs whether imported as an assembly or separately. The wheels are typically used in commercial vehicles (trucks, buses, trailers, etc.) but passenger car wheels within that size range fall within the scope of the investigation.
Last year, two U.S. auto wheel manufacturers submitted petitions claiming that at least two dozen Chinese producers and exporters were “dumping” the wheels in the U.S. market. The U.S. International Trade Administration (ITA) recently calculated that the dumping margins range from 44.96% to 193.54% ad valorem and countervailing duties range from 25.66% to 38.32% ad valorem.
For more information, contact Stuart Gosswein at stuartg@sema.org.