- Effective Date: Oct 18, 2022
- Period of Review: Jul 01, 2021 to Jun 30, 2022
- Cite as: 87 FR 64444
Cite date: Oct 25, 2022
1. On 10/25/2022, Commerce published in the Federal Register its initiation of the antidumping
duty investigation of certain freight rail couplers and parts thereof from Mexico (87 FR 64444).
The effective date of this initiation is 10/18/2022 (the applicable date stated in the FR notice).
2. The scope of this investigation covers certain freight railcar couplers (also known as "fits" or
"assemblies") and parts thereof. Freight railcar couplers are composed of two main parts,
namely knuckles and coupler bodies but may also include other items (e.g., coupler locks, lock
lift assemblies, knuckle pins, knuckle throwers, and rotors). The parts of couplers that are
covered by the investigation include: (1) E coupler bodies, (2) E/F coupler bodies, (3) F coupler
bodies, (4) E knuckles, and (5) F knuckles, as set forth by the Association of American Railroads
(AAR). The freight rail coupler parts (i.e., knuckles and coupler bodies) are included within the
scope of the investigation when imported separately. Coupler locks, lock lift assemblies,
knuckle pins, knuckle throwers, and rotors are covered merchandise when imported in an
assembly but are not covered by the scope when imported separately.
Subject freight railcar
couplers and parts are included within the scope whether finished or unfinished, whether imported
individually or with other subject or nonsubject parts, whether assembled or unassembled, whether
mounted or unmounted, or if joined with nonsubject merchandise, such as other nonsubject parts
or a completed railcar. Finishing includes, but is not limited to, arc washing, welding, grinding, shot
blasting, heat treatment, machining, and assembly of various parts. When a subject coupler or
subject parts are mounted on or to other nonsubject merchandise, such as a railcar, only the
coupler or subject parts are covered by the scope.
The finished products covered by the scope of this investigation meet or exceed the AAR
specifications of M-211, "Foundry and Product Approval Requirements for the Manufacture of
Couplers, Coupler Yokes, Knuckles, Follower Blocks, and Coupler Parts" and/or AAR M-215
"Coupling Systems," or other equivalent domestic or international standards (including any
revisions to the standard(s)).
The country of origin for subject couplers and parts thereof, whether fully assembled, unfinished
or finished, or attached to a railcar, is the country where the subject coupler parts were cast or
forged. Subject merchandise includes coupler parts as defined above that have been further
processed or further assembled, including those coupler parts attached to a railcar in third
countries. Further processing includes, but is not limited to, arc washing, welding, grinding, shot
blasting, heat treatment, painting, coating, priming, machining, and assembly of various parts.
The inclusion, attachment, joining, or assembly of nonsubject parts with subject parts or couplers
either in the country of manufacture of the in-scope product or in a third country does not
remove the subject parts or couplers from the scope.
The couplers that are the subject of this investigation are currently classifiable in the Harmonized
Tariff Schedule of the United States (HTSUS) statistical reporting number 8607.30.1000.
Unfinished subject merchandise may also enter under HTSUS statistical reporting number
7326.90.8688. Subject merchandise attached to finished railcars may also enter under HTSUS
statistical reporting numbers 8606.10.0000, 8606.30.0000, 8606.91.0000, 8606.92.0000,
8606.99.0130, 8606.99.0160, or under subheading 9803.00.5000 if imported as an Instrument of
International Traffic. Subject merchandise may also be imported under HTSUS statistical
reporting number 7325.99.5000. These HTSUS subheadings are provided for convenience and
customs purposes only; the written description of the scope of this investigation is dispositive.
3. This proceeding has been assigned case number A-201-857.
4. If there are any questions by the importing public regarding this message, please contact the
Call Center for the Office of AD/CVD Operations, Enforcement and Compliance, International
Trade Administration, U.S. Department of Commerce at (202) 482-0984. CBP ports should
submit their inquiries through authorized CBP channels only. (This message was generated by
OIII:JHE.)
5. There are no restrictions on the release of this information.
Alexander Amdur