1. On 02/15/2019, Commerce published in the Federal Register its countervailing duty order and amended final determination on truck and bus tires from the People's Republic of China (84 FR 4434). This message supersedes previous instructions terminating the countervailing duty investigation. See message 7093313, dated 04/03/2017. On 01/30/2019 the International Trade Commission issued its final affirmative determination of material injury on remand pursuant to United Steel, Paper and Forestry, Rubber, Manufacturing, Energy, Allied Industrial and Service Workers International Union, AFL-CIO, CLC, v. United States, Court No. 17-00078 and notified Commerce on 02/08/2019.

2. The merchandise covered by this order are as follows:

The scope of the order covers truck and bus tires. Truck and bus tires are new pneumatic tires, of rubber, with a truck or bus size designation. Truck and bus tires covered by this investigation may be tube-type, tubeless, radial, or non-radial.

Subject tires have, at the time of importation, the symbol “DOT” on the sidewall, certifying that the tire conforms to applicable motor vehicle safety standards. Subject tires may also have one of the following suffixes in their tire size designation, which also appear on the sidewall of the tire:

TR – Identifies tires for service on trucks or buses to differentiate them from similarly sized passenger car and light truck tires; and

HC – Identifies a 17.5 inch rim diameter code for use on low platform trailers.

All tires with a “TR” or “HC” suffix in their size designations are covered by this investigation regardless of their intended use.

In addition, all tires that lack one of the above suffix markings are included in the scope, regardless of their intended use, as long as the tire is of a size that is among the numerical size designations listed in the “Truck-Bus” section of the Tire and Rim Association Year Book, as updated annually, unless the tire falls within one of the specific exclusions set out below.

Truck and bus tires, whether or not mounted on wheels or rims, are included in the scope. However, if a subject tire is imported mounted on a wheel or rim, only the tire is covered by the scope. Subject merchandise includes truck and bus tires produced in the subject country whether mounted on wheels or rims in the subject country or in a third country. Truck and bus tires are covered whether or not they are accompanied by other parts, e.g., a wheel, rim, axle parts, bolts, nuts, etc. Truck and bus tires that enter attached to a vehicle are not covered by the scope.

Specifically excluded from the scope of this investigation are the following types of tires: (1) pneumatic tires, of rubber, that are not new, including recycled and retreaded tires; (2) non-pneumatic tires, such as solid rubber tires; and (3) tires that exhibit each of the following physical characteristics: (a) the designation “MH” is molded into the tire's sidewall as part of the size designation; (b) the tire incorporates a warning, prominently molded on the sidewall, that the tire is for “Mobile Home Use Only;” and (c) the tire is of bias construction as evidenced by the fact that the construction code included in the size designation molded into the tire's sidewall is not the letter “R.”

The subject merchandise is currently classifiable under Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States (HTSUS) subheadings: 4011.20.1015 and 4011.20.5020. Tires meeting the scope description may also enter under the following HTSUS subheadings: 4011.69.0020, 4011.69.0090, 4011.70.00, 4011.90.80, 4011.99.4520, 4011.99.4590, 4011.99.8520, 4011.99.8590, 8708.70.4530, 8708.70.6030, 8708.70.6060, and 8716.90.5059.

While HTSUS subheadings are provided for convenience and for customs purposes, the written description of the subject merchandise is dispositive.

3. CBP shall suspend liquidation of imports of subject merchandise entered, or withdrawn from warehouse, for consumption on or after 02/15/2019 and shall require cash deposits equal to the percentages of entered value identified below.

Producer and/or Exporter: All-Others
Case Number: C-570-041-000
Subsidy rate: 42.16 percent

Producer and/or Exporter: Shanghai Huayi Group Corporation Limited (formerly Double Coin Holdings Ltd) and its cross-owned companies: Double Coin Group (Jiangsu) Tyre Co., Ltd.; Double Coin Group (Chongqing) Tyre Co., Ltd.; Double Coin Group Shanghai Donghai Tyre Co. Ltd.; Double Coin Group (Xinjiang) Kunlun Tyre Co., Ltd.
Case Number: C-570-041-001
Subsidy rate: 20.98 percent

Producer and/or Exporter: Guizhou Tyre Import and Export Co., Ltd; Guizhou Tyre Co., Ltd.
Case Number: C-570-041-002
Subsidy rate: 63.34 percent

4. If there are any questions by the 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 O1:LN)

5. There are no restrictions on the release of this information.

Alexander Amdur