US to implement anti-dumping tariffs against Chinese steel wheels

The US Department of Commerce has announced that it has preliminarily decided to implement a range of anti-dumping (AD) measures against Chinese steel wheel producers/exporters ranging from 110.58 to 193.54 per cent ad valorem. According the department, for the purposes of AD investigations, dumping means “a foreign company sell[ing] a product in the United States at less than fair value.” Official reports show that the petitioners for this investigation were Accuride Corporation and Hayes Lemmerz International Inc. The final determination is scheduled to be made in March 2012. European authorities levelled a similar determination against Chinese alloy wheel makers in 2010.

The exact rates levied against the Chinese wheel producer vary between certain companies, with a higher blanket rate for those not names. The Department of Commerce preliminarily determined that mandatory respondents Shanghai Yata Industry Company Limited and Zhejiang Jingu Company Limited received a preliminary dumping rate of 141.38 per cent and Jining Centurion Wheels Manufacturing Co Ltd. received a preliminary dumping rate of 110.58 per cent. Eight additional exporters qualified for a separate rate of 125.98 per cent. All other Chinese producers/exporters are subject to the China-wide preliminary dumping rate of 193.54 per cent. As a result of this preliminary determination, Commerce will instruct US Customs and Border Protection to collect a cash deposit or bond based on these preliminary rates.

The products covered by the investigation are 18 to 24.5 inch steel wheels. In 2010, imports of steel wheels were valued at an estimated US$80.4 million.

Related news:

• European Commission Imposes 20.6% Duty on Chinese Alloy Wheel Imports

• European Aluminium Wheel Market 2006 – 2009

• European ‘Anti-Dumping’ Investigation Could Mean 30% Duty on Chinese Alloys