Resolving P/LT tire import duties case could take until March 2021

WASHINGTON—Although the Commerce Department has stamped its approval on investigations into the alleged dumping of passenger and light truck tires from three Asian nations and Taiwan, resolving the issue could take until March 2021 until a final determination is reached.

According to the timetable released by the Commerce Department, the antidumping and countervailing duty investigations into these P/LT tire imports need to go through five more steps until final resolution.

The steps are: preliminary determinations by the International Trade Commission; preliminary determinations by Commerce; final determinations by Commerce; final determinations by the ITC; and issuance of orders.

The timelines for the respective CVD and AD investigations are:

• ITC preliminary determinations—July 17 (for both);
• DOC preliminary determinations—Aug. 26 and Nov. 9;
• DOC final determination—Nov. 9 and Jan. 25, 2021;
• ITC final determination—Dec. 24 and March 11, 2021; and
• Issuance or orders—Dec. 31 and March 18, 2021.

During Commerce's investigations, the ITC will conduct its own investigations into whether the U.S. industry and its work force are being injured by such imports, Commerce said.

The ITC will make its preliminary determinations by July 17. If the ITC determines preliminarily that there is "reasonable indication" of material injury or threat of material injury, then Commerce's investigations will continue, with the preliminary CVD determination scheduled for Aug. 26, and preliminary AD determinations scheduled for Nov. 9, unless these deadlines are extended.

If Commerce determines preliminarily that dumping and/or unfair subsidization is occurring, it will instruct U.S. Customs and Border Protection to start collecting cash deposits from all U.S. companies importing P/LT tires from South Korea, Taiwan, Thailand and Vietnam, as appropriate.

Final determinations by Commerce in these cases are scheduled for Nov. 9, for the CVD investigation, and Jan. 25, 2021, for the AD investigation, but these dates may be extended, Commerce said.

If Commerce finds that products are not being dumped or unfairly subsidized, or the ITC finds in a final determination there is no injury to the U.S. industry, then the investigations will be terminated and no duties will be applied.

AD and CVD laws provide U.S. businesses and workers with an internationally accepted mechanism to seek relief from the alleged harmful effects of unfair pricing and unfair subsidization of imports into the U.S. There are 529 AD and CVD orders in place as of late June, Commerce said.

Foreign companies that price their products in the U.S. market below the cost of production or below prices in their home markets are subject to AD duties. Foreign companies that receive financial assistance from foreign governments that benefits those companies' production of goods, and is limited to specific enterprises or industries or is contingent either upon export performance or upon the use of domestic goods over imported goods, are subject to CVD duties.

Commerce's Enforcement and Compliance unit within the International Trade Administration is responsible for enforcing U.S. trade laws and does so through an "impartial, transparent process" that abides by international rules and is based on factual evidence provided on the record.

The strict enforcement of U.S. trade law is a primary focus of the Trump administration, Commerce said. Since the beginning of the current administration, Commerce has initiated 262 AD and CVD investigations.