WASHINGTON — The antidumping duties imposed on passenger and light truck tires from South Korea, Taiwan and Thailand by the U.S. will be in effect for at least five years, then will be up for review under "sunset" regulations in place for such actions by the Department of Commerce.
Technically speaking, an order stays in place until it is revoked, according to a spokesperson for the U.S. International Trade Commission (ITC). However, Commerce and the ITC are obligated to conduct sunset reviews on orders every five years based on the anniversary month of the publication of the order.
During a sunset review, Commerce must examine whether dumping or subsidies will continue or recur if an order were revoked. Separately, the ITC examines whether injury will continue or recur if an order were revoked.
Affirmative findings by both Commerce and the ITC are necessary for an antidumping or countervailing duty order to remain in place.
As reported earlier by Tire Business, Commerce has determined that duties are warranted on imports from South Korea, Taiwan and Thailand because it believes that such tires "are being, or are likely to be, sold in the U.S. at less than fair value."
The investigation — which was carried out in response to a petition from the United Steelworkers in May 2020 — covered a period from April 1, 2019, through March 31, 2020.
The final rates published by Commerce are:
- In South Korea — Hankook Tire & Technology Co. Ltd., 27.05%; Nexen Tire Corp., 14.72%; "all others" 21.74%.
- In Taiwan — Cheng Shin Rubber Industry Co. Ltd./Maxxis International, 20.04%; Nankang Rubber Industry Co. Ltd., 101.84%; "all others," 84.75%.
- In Thailand — Sumitomo Rubber (Thailand) Co. Ltd., 14.62%; LLIT (Thailand) Co. Ltd. (Linglong), 21.09%; "all others," 17.08%.
In addition, Sailun Vietnam and Kumho Tire Vietnam were assessed countervailing duties of 6.23% and 7.89%, respectively. All other companies were assessed a countervailing duty of 6.46%.
Earlier this year, Commerce and ITC conducted a sunset review on antidumping and countervailing duties on consumer tire imports from China and determined they should remain in place.
