WASHINGTON—The U.S. Department of Commerce mostly cut its antidumping duty findings against truck and bus tires imported from China, but greatly increased its subsidy findings against the same tires, in final determinations issued Jan. 23.
The agency maintained the China-wide antidumping rate of 22.57 percent it found in its preliminary determination Aug. 29.
However, it cut its antidumping duty against Prinx Chengshan (Shandong) Tire Co. to 9 percent from the preliminary level of 20.87 percent. Also, the rate for non-selected respondents eligible for a separate rate was decreased to 9 percent from 22.57 percent.
Final countervailing duty levels were doubled or tripled from the preliminary levels issued June 8. Commerce increased countervailing duties against Double Coin Holdings Ltd. to 38.61 percent from 17.06 percent.
The agency raised countervailing duties against Guizhou Tyre Co. Ltd. to 65.46 percent from 23.36 percent. For all other truck and bus tire importers, it raised rates to 52.04 percent from 20.22 percent.
In its petition for relief from Chinese truck and bus tire imports, the United Steelworkers union alleged critical circumstances, Commerce noted.
The agency found critical circumstances against all importers in the antidumping duty investigation, but only against Guizhou in the countervailing duty investigation, it said.
The findings mean that Commerce will instruct U.S. Customs and Border Protection to collect cash deposits from the Chinese truck and bus tire importers.
However, countervailing duty deposits are not currently required because provisional measures in that investigation have lapsed, Commerce said. For the same reason, the agency said, it will not adjust antidumping cash deposits to reflect offsets for certain subsidies.
If the ITC issues an affirmative injury determination when it votes March 6, Commerce said, cash deposits will again be required and antidumping deposits will be adjusted.
Commerce announced its final determinations the evening before the ITC was scheduled to hold its final hearing on whether Chinese truck and bus imports are causing material injury to the U.S. truck and bus tire industry.