2020-15889. Passenger Vehicle and Light Truck Tires From Korea, Taiwan, Thailand, and Vietnam

DETERMINATIONS

On the basis of the record ^[1] developed in the subject investigations, the United States International Trade Commission (“Commission”) determines, pursuant to the Tariff Act of 1930 (“the Act”), that there is a reasonable indication that an industry in the United States is materially injured by reason of imports of passenger vehicle and light truck tires from Korea, Taiwan, Thailand, and Vietnam, provided for in subheadings 4011.10.10, 4011.10.50, 4011.20.10, and 4011.20.50 of the Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States, that are alleged to be sold in the United States at less than fair value (“LTFV”) and to be subsidized by the government of Vietnam.^[2]

Commencement of Final Phase Investigations

Pursuant to § 207.18 of the Commission's rules, the Commission also gives notice of the commencement of the final phase of its investigations. The Commission will issue a final phase notice of scheduling, which will be published in the Federal Register as provided in § 207.21 of the Commission's rules, upon notice from the U.S. Department of Commerce (“Commerce”) of affirmative preliminary determinations in the investigations under sections 703(b) or 733(b) of the Act, or, if the preliminary determinations are negative, upon notice of affirmative final determinations in those investigations under sections 705(a) or 735(a) of the Act. Parties that filed entries of appearance in the preliminary phase of the investigations need not enter a separate appearance for the final phase of the investigations. Industrial users, and, if the merchandise under investigation is sold at the retail level, representative consumer organizations have the right to appear as parties in Commission antidumping and countervailing duty investigations. The Secretary will prepare a public service list containing the names and addresses of all persons, or their representatives, who are parties to the investigations.

Background

On May 13, 2020, the United Steel, Paper and Forestry, Rubber, Manufacturing, Energy, Allied Industrial and Service Workers International Union, AFL-CIO, CLC (“USW”), Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, filed petitions with the Commission and Commerce, alleging that an industry in the United States is materially injured or threatened with material injury by reason of subsidized imports of passenger vehicle and light truck tires from Vietnam and LTFV imports of passenger vehicle and light truck tires from Korea, Taiwan, Thailand, and Vietnam. Accordingly, effective May 13, 2020, the Commission instituted countervailing duty investigation No. 701-TA-647 and antidumping duty investigation Nos. 731-TA-1517-1520 (Preliminary).

Notice of the institution of the Commission's investigations and of a public conference to be held in connection therewith was given by posting copies of the notice in the Office of the Secretary, U.S. International Trade Commission, Washington, DC, and by publishing the notice in the Federal Register of May 19, 2020 (85 FR 29972). In light of the restrictions on access to the Commission building due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Commission conducted its conference through written questions, submissions of opening remarks and written testimony, written responses to questions, and postconference briefs. All persons who requested the opportunity were permitted to participate.

The Commission made these determinations pursuant to sections 703(a) and 733(a) of the Act (19 U.S.C. 1671b(a) and 1673b(a)). It completed and filed its determinations in these investigations on July 24, 2020. The views of the Commission are contained in USITC Publication 5093 (July 2020), entitled Passenger Vehicle and Light Truck Tires from Korea, Taiwan, Thailand, and Vietnam: Investigation Nos. 701-TA-647 and 731-TA-1517-1520 (Preliminary).

By order of the Commission.

Issued: July 17, 2020.

Lisa Barton,

Secretary to the Commission.

Footnotes

1.  The record is defined in § 207.2(f) of the Commission's Rules of Practice and Procedure (19 CFR 207.2(f)).

2.  85 FR 38850 and 85 FR 38854 (June 29, 2020).