New Antidumping And Countervailing Duty Petitions On Certain Iron Mechanical Transfer Drive Components From Canada And China

On October 28, 2015, TB Wood’s Incorporated filed antidumping (AD) petitions with the U.S. Department of Commerce (DOC) and U.S. International Trade Commission (ITC), regarding certain iron mechanical transfer drive components from Canada and China.  TB Wood’s Incorporated also filed a countervailing duty (CVD) petition on the same product from China.

Scope:

The petitioner proposes the following scope of investigation:

The products covered by this investigation are iron mechanical transfer drive components including sheaves (pulleys), bushings, and flywheels, regardless of diameter, width design, or iron type (e.g., gray, white, or ductile iron), whether or not machined and regardless of the country in which any machining takes place; with or without other non-cast iron attachments or parts; and whether or not entered as a belted drive assembly. When entered as a belted drive assembly, only the iron sheaves (pulleys), bushings, and flywheels are covered merchandise, not the other components in the belted drive assembly (e.g., belt, coupling, shaft).

The products covered by this investigation are iron wheels or cylinders with a center bore hole that may have one or more grooves or teeth in their outer circumference that guide or mesh with a flat or ribbed belt or like device. The products covered by this investigation also include iron cylinders designed to fit into the bore holes of other mechanical transfer drive components to lock them into drive shafts by means of design elements such as teeth, bolts, or screws (i.e., bushings).

Covered mechanical transfer drive components may be net shape blanks or may be machined to final specification after initial casting, forging or like operations that produce net shape blanks. These machining processes may include cutting, punching, notching, boring, threading mitering, or chamfering. Covered mechanical transfer drive components remain subject merchandise regardless of where the net shape blanks are machined or subjected to further processing.

Covered mechanical transfer drive components may be imported with non-iron attachments or parts, and remain subject whether or not entered with other mechanical transfer drive components or as part of a mechanical transfer drive assembly.

Iron mechanical transfer drive components are covered regardless of metallurgy, inclusive of white, grey, and ductile iron. For purposes of this investigation, a covered product is of “iron” where the article has a carbon content of 1.5 percent by weight or above, regardless of the presence and amount of additional alloying elements. Non-ferrous mechanical transfer drive components are excluded from the scope.

The merchandise covered by this investigation is currently classifiable under Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States (HTSUS) subheadings 8483.30.8090, 8483.50.9040, 8483.50.9080, 8483.90.3000, 8483.90. Covered merchandise may also enter under the following HTSUS subheadings: 8431.39.0010, 8483.50.4000. These HTSUS subheadings are provided for convenience and customs purposes. The written description of the scope of the order is dispositive.

Alleged Dumping Margins:

The petitions allege a dumping margin of 292.85 percent for Canada, and 49.81 percent to 122.42 percent for China.

Alleged Subsidy Programs:

The CVD petition alleges that Chinese producers/exporters benefit from numerous countervailable subsidies provided by the Government of China and provincial/local Chinese government authorities.  Please let us know if you would like further details regarding specific subsidy allegations.

Estimated Schedule of Investigations:

October 28, 2015 – Petitions are filed
November 18, 2015 – DOC initiates investigation
November 18, 2015 – ITC staff conference
December 14, 2015 – Deadline for ITC preliminary injury determination
January 22, 2016 – Deadline for DOC preliminary CVD determination, if deadline is NOT postponed
March 28, 2016 – Deadline for DOC preliminary CVD determination, if deadline is fully postponed
April 6, 2016 – Deadline for DOC preliminary AD determinations, if deadlines are NOT postponed
May 26, 2016 – Deadline for DOC preliminary AD determinations, if deadlines are fully postponed
October 11, 2016 – Deadline for DOC final AD and CVD determinations, if both preliminary and final determinations are fully postponed
November 25, 2016 – Deadline for DOC final injury determination, assuming fully postponed DOC deadlines