Passenger Vehicle and Light Truck Tires From the Socialist Republic of Vietnam: Initiation of Countervailing Duty Investigation |
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Jeffrey I. Kessler
Department of Commerce
29 June 2020
[Federal Register Volume 85, Number 125 (Monday, June 29, 2020)]
[Notices]
[Pages 38850-38854]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2020-13957]
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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
International Trade Administration
[C-552-829]
Passenger Vehicle and Light Truck Tires From the Socialist
Republic of Vietnam: Initiation of Countervailing Duty Investigation
AGENCY: Enforcement and Compliance, International Trade Administration,
Department of Commerce.
DATES: Applicable June 22, 2020.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Thomas Schauer; AD/CVD Operations,
Office I, Enforcement and Compliance, International Trade
Administration, U.S. Department of Commerce, 1401 Constitution Avenue
NW, Washington, DC 20230; telephone: (202) 482-0410.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
The Petition
On May 13, 2020, the Department of Commerce (Commerce) received a
countervailing duty (CVD) petition concerning imports of passenger
vehicle and light truck tires (passenger tires) from the Socialist
Republic of Vietnam (Vietnam) filed in proper form on behalf of the
United Steel, Paper and Forestry, Rubber, Manufacturing, Energy, Allied
Industrial and Service Workers International Union, AFL-CIO, CLC (the
petitioner).\1\ The petition was accompanied by antidumping duty (AD)
petitions concerning imports of passenger tires from Vietnam, Republic
of Korea, Taiwan, and Thailand.\2\
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\1\ See Petitioner's Letter, ``Passenger vehicle and light truck
tires from the Republic of Korea, Taiwan, Thailand, and the
Socialist Republic of Vietnam--Petition for the Imposition of
Antidumping and Countervailing Duties,'' dated May 13, 2020 (the
Petition).
\2\ Id.
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[[Page 38851]]
Between May 18 and June 8, 2020, Commerce requested supplemental
information pertaining to certain aspects of the Petition.\3\ The
petitioner filed responses to these requests on May 20 and June 10,
2020.\4\
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\3\ See Commerce's Letters, ``Passenger Vehicle and Light Truck
Tires from Korea, Taiwan, Thailand, and Vietnam: Response to
Supplemental Questions,'' dated May 20, 2020 (General Issues
Supplemental); and Country-Specific Supplemental Questionnaires:
``Petition for the Imposition of Countervailing Duties on Imports of
Passenger Vehicle and Light Truck Tires from the Socialist Republic
of Vietnam: Supplemental Questions,'' dated May 18, 2020 and
``Petition for the Imposition of Countervailing Duties on Imports of
Passenger Vehicle and Light Truck Tires from the Socialist Republic
of Vietnam: Additional Supplemental Question'' dated June 8, 2020.
\4\ See the Petitioner's Country-Specific Supplemental
Responses, ``Passenger Vehicle and Light Truck Tires from Vietnam:
Response to Supplemental Questions,'' dated May 20, 2020; see also
Petitioner's Letter, ``Passenger Vehicle and Light Truck Tires from
Vietnam: Response to Supplemental Questions,'' dated June 10, 2020.
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On May 21, 2020, Commerce extended the initiation deadline by 20
days to poll the domestic industry in accordance with section
702(c)(4)(D) of the Act, because it was not ``clear from the Petitions
whether the industry support criteria have been met . . . .'' \5\
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\5\ See Notice of Extension of the Deadline for Determining the
Adequacy of the Antidumping and Countervailing Duty Petitions:
Passenger Vehicle and Light Truck Tires from Korea, Taiwan,
Thailand, and Vietnam, 85 FR 32013 (May 28, 2020) (Initiation
Extension Notice).
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In accordance with section 702(b)(1) of the Tariff Act of 1930, as
amended (the Act), the petitioner alleges that the Government of
Vietnam (GOV) is providing countervailable subsidies within the meaning
of sections 701 and 771(5) of the Act, and that imports of such
products are materially injuring, or threatening material injury to,
the passenger tires industry in the United States. Consistent with
section 702(b)(1) of the Act and 19 CFR 351.202(b), for those alleged
programs on which we are initiating a CVD investigation, the Petition
was accompanied by information reasonably available to the petitioner
supporting its allegation.
Commerce finds that the petitioner is an interested party, as
defined in section 771(9)(D) of the Act. Commerce also finds that the
petitioner demonstrated sufficient industry support for the initiation
of the requested CVD investigation.\6\
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\6\ See infra, section on ``Determination of Industry Support
for the Petition.''
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Period of Investigation
Because the Petition was filed on May 13, 2020, the period of
investigation is January 1, 2019 through December 31, 2019.\7\
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\7\ See 19 CFR 351.204(b)(2).
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Scope of the Investigation
The products covered by this investigation are passenger tires from
Vietnam. For a full description of the scope of this investigation, see
the Appendix to this notice.
Comments on the Scope of the Investigation
As discussed in the Preamble to Commerce's regulations, we are
setting aside a period for interested parties to raise issues regarding
product coverage (i.e., scope).\8\ Commerce will consider all comments
received from interested parties and, if necessary, will consult with
interested parties prior to the issuance of the preliminary
determination. If scope comments include factual information,\9\ all
such factual information should be limited to public information. To
facilitate preparation of its questionnaires, Commerce requests that
all interested parties submit such comments by 5:00 p.m. Eastern Time
(ET) on July 13, 2020, which is the next business day after 20 calendar
days from the signature date of this notice.\10\ Any rebuttal comments,
which may include factual information, must be filed by 5:00 p.m. ET on
July 23, 2020, which is ten calendar days from the initial comment
deadline.\11\
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\8\ See Antidumping Duties; Countervailing Duties, 62 FR 27296,
27323 (May 19, 1997) (Preamble).
\9\ See 19 CFR 351.102(b)(21) (defining ``factual
information'').
\10\ In this case, 20 days after initiation falls on July 12,
2020, a Sunday. Where a deadline falls on a weekend or federal
holiday, the appropriate deadline is the next business day. See
Notice of Clarification: Application of ``Next Business Day'' Rule
for Administrative Determination Deadlines Pursuant to the Tariff
Act of 1930, As Amended, 70 FR 24533 (May 10, 2005).
\11\ See 19 CFR 351.303(b).
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Commerce requests that any factual information parties consider
relevant to the scope of the investigation be submitted during this
period. However, if a party subsequently finds that additional factual
information pertaining to the scope of the investigation may be
relevant, the party may contact Commerce and request permission to
submit the additional information. All such comments must be filed on
the records of the concurrent AD and CVD investigations.
Filing Requirements
All submissions to Commerce must be filed electronically via
Enforcement and Compliance's Antidumping Duty and Countervailing Duty
Centralized Electronic Service System (ACCESS), unless an exception
applies.\12\ An electronically filed document must be received
successfully in its entirety by the time and date it is due.
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\12\ See Antidumping and Countervailing Duty Proceedings:
Electronic Filing Procedures; Administrative Protective Order
Procedures, 76 FR 39263 (July 6, 2011); see also Enforcement and
Compliance; Change of Electronic Filing System Name, 79 FR 69046
(November 20, 2014) for details of Commerce's electronic filing
requirements, effective August 5, 2011. Information on help using
ACCESS can be found at https://access.trade.gov/help.aspx and a
handbook can be found at https://access.trade.gov/help/Handbook_on_Electronic_Filing_Procedures.pdf.
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Consultations
Pursuant to sections 702(b)(4)(A)(i) and (ii) of the Act, Commerce
notified representatives of the GOV of the receipt of the Petition and
provided it the opportunity for consultations with respect to the
Petition.\13\ Consultations were held with the GOV on April 27,
2020.\14\ The GOV submitted consultation remarks on June 16, 2020.\15\
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\13\ See Commerce's Letter, ``Countervailing Duty Petition on
Passenger Vehicle and Light Truck Tires from the Socialist Republic
of Vietnam; Invitation for Consultations to Discuss the
Countervailing Duty Petition,'' dated May 14, 2020.
\14\ See Memorandum, ``Consultations with Officials from the
Government of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam Regarding the
Countervailing Duty Investigation of Passenger Vehicle and Light
Truck Tires from the Socialist Republic of Vietnam,'' dated June 2,
2020.
\15\ See GOV's Letter, ``Submission of Viet Nam regarding the
Petition for the initiation of antidumping, anti-subsidy
investigations on imports of passenger vehicles and light trucks
tires (PVL T Tires) from Viet Nam,'' dated June 16, 2020.
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Determination of Industry Support for the Petition
Section 702(b)(1) of the Act requires that a petition be filed on
behalf of the domestic industry. Section 702(c)(4)(A) of the Act
provides that a petition meets this requirement if the domestic
producers or workers who support the petition account for: (i) At least
25 percent of the total production of the domestic like product; and
(ii) more than 50 percent of the production of the domestic like
product produced by that portion of the industry expressing support
for, or opposition to, the petition. Moreover, section 702(c)(4)(D) of
the Act provides that, if the petition does not establish support of
domestic producers or workers accounting for more than 50 percent of
the total production of the domestic like product, Commerce shall: (i)
Poll the industry or rely on other information in order to determine if
there is support for the petition, as required by subparagraph (A); or
(ii) determine industry support using a statistically valid sampling
method to poll the ``industry.''
Section 771(4)(A) of the Act defines the ``industry'' as the
producers as a whole of a domestic like product. Thus,
[[Page 38852]]
to determine whether a petition has the requisite industry support, the
statute directs Commerce to look to producers and workers who produce
the domestic like product. The International Trade Commission (ITC),
which is responsible for determining whether ``the domestic industry''
has been injured, must also determine what constitutes a domestic like
product in order to define the industry. While both Commerce and the
ITC must apply the same statutory definition regarding the domestic
like product,\16\ they do so for different purposes and pursuant to a
separate and distinct authority. In addition, Commerce's determination
is subject to limitations of time and information. Although this may
result in different definitions of the like product, such differences
do not render the decision of either agency contrary to law.\17\
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\16\ See section 771(10) of the Act.
\17\ See USEC, Inc. v. United States, 132 F. Supp. 2d 1, 8 (CIT
2001) (citing Algoma Steel Corp., Ltd. v. United States, 688 F.
Supp. 639, 644 (CIT 1988), aff'd 865 F.2d 240 (Fed. Cir. 1989)).
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Section 771(10) of the Act defines the domestic like product as ``a
product which is like, or in the absence of like, most similar in
characteristics and uses with, the article subject to an investigation
under this title.'' Thus, the reference point from which the domestic
like product analysis begins is ``the article subject to an
investigation'' (i.e., the class or kind of merchandise to be
investigated, which normally will be the scope as defined in the
petition).
With regard to the domestic like product, the petitioner does not
offer a definition of the domestic like product distinct from the scope
of the investigation.\18\ Based on our analysis of the information
submitted on the record, we have determined that passenger tires, as
defined in the scope, constitute a single domestic like product, and we
have analyzed industry support in terms of that domestic like
product.\19\
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\18\ See Volume I of the Petition at 3-5, and Exhibits I-1 and
I-3.
\19\ For a discussion of the domestic like product analysis as
applied to this case and information regarding industry support, see
Countervailing Duty Investigation Initiation Checklist: Passenger
Vehicle and Light Truck Tires from Vietnam (Vietnam CVD Initiation
Checklist) at Attachment II, Analysis of Industry Support for the
Antidumping and Countervailing Duty Petitions Covering Passenger
Vehicle and Light Truck Tires from Korea, Taiwan, Thailand, and
Vietnam (Attachment II). The checklist is dated concurrently with
this notice and on file electronically via ACCESS.
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On May 21, 2020, Commerce extended the initiation deadline by 20
days to poll the domestic industry in accordance with section
702(c)(4)(D) of the Act, because it was not ``clear from the Petitions
whether the industry support criteria have been met . . . .'' \20\
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\20\ See Initiation Extension Notice; see also Vietnam CVD
Initiation Checklist at Attachment II.
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On May 22, 2020, we issued polling questionnaires to all known
producers identified in the Petition, as well as unions, employee
organizations, or ad hoc groups of workers involved in the production
of passenger tires.\21\ We requested that the companies/workers
complete the polling questionnaire and certify their responses by the
due date specified in the cover letter to the questionnaire.\22\
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\21\ See Memorandum, ``Passenger Vehicle and Light Truck Tires
from Korea, Taiwan, Thailand, and Vietnam: Polling Questionnaire,''
dated May 22, 2020; see also Volume I of the Petition at 5-6 and
Exhibit I-2; and General Issues Supplemental at 3 and Exhibit 1.
\22\ For a detailed discussion of the responses received, see
Vietnam CVD Initiation Checklist at Attachment II. The polling
questionnaire and questionnaire responses are on file electronically
via ACCESS.
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Our analysis of the data we received in the polling questionnaire
responses indicates that the domestic producers and workers who support
the Petition account for at least 25 percent of the total production of
the domestic like product and more than 50 percent of the production of
the domestic like product produced by that portion of the industry
expressing support for, or opposition to, the Petition.\23\
Accordingly, Commerce determines that the industry support requirements
of section 702(c)(4)(A) have been met and that the Petition was filed
on behalf of the domestic industry within the meaning of section
702(b)(1) of the Act.\24\
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\23\ See Vietnam CVD Initiation Checklist at Attachment II.
\24\ Id.
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Injury Test
Because Vietnam is a ``Subsidies Agreement Country'' within the
meaning of section 701(b) of the Act, section 701(a)(2) of the Act
applies to this investigation. Accordingly, the ITC must determine
whether imports of the subject merchandise from Vietnam materially
injure, or threaten material injury to, a U.S. industry
Allegations and Evidence of Material Injury and Causation
The petitioner alleges that the U.S. industry producing the
domestic like product is benefitting from countervailable subsidies and
that such imports are causing, or threaten to cause, material injury to
the U.S. industry producing the domestic like product. In addition, the
petitioner alleges that subject imports exceed the negligibility
threshold provided for under section 771(24)(A) of the Act.\25\
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\25\ See Volume I of the Petitions at 19-20 and Exhibit I-9.
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The petitioner contends that the industry's injured condition is
illustrated by a significant and increasing volume of subject imports;
reduced market share; underselling and price depression or suppression;
production and shipments lagging behind demand; declines in capacity
utilization and employment; and declining financial performance.\26\ We
assessed the allegations and supporting evidence regarding material
injury, threat of material injury, causation, as well as negligibility,
and determined that these allegations are properly supported by
adequate evidence, and meet the statutory requirements for
initiation.\27\
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\26\ See Volume I of the Petitions at 23-37 and Exhibits I-3, I-
9, and I-11 through I-15.
\27\ See CVD Vietnam Initiation Checklist at Attachment III,
Analysis of Allegations and Evidence of Material Injury and
Causation for the Antidumping and Countervailing Duty Petitions
Covering Passenger Vehicle and Light Truck Tires from Korea, Taiwan,
Thailand, and Vietnam.
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Initiation of CVD Investigation
Based upon the examination of the Petition and supplemental
responses, we find that they meet the requirements of section 702 of
the Act. Therefore, we are initiating a CVD investigation to determine
whether imports of passenger tires from Vietnam benefit from
countervailable subsidies conferred by the GOV. In accordance with
section 703(b)(1) of the Act and 19 CFR 351.205(b)(1), unless
postponed, we will make our preliminary determination no later than 65
days after the date of this initiation.
Based on our review of the petition, we find that there is
sufficient information to initiate a CVD investigation on all alleged
programs. For a full discussion of the basis for our decision to
initiate on each program, see Vietnam CVD Initiation Checklist. A
public version of the initiation checklist for this investigation is
available on ACCESS.
Respondent Selection
In the Petition, the petitioner named 13 companies \28\ as
producers/exporters of passenger tires. Commerce intends to follow its
standard practice in CVD investigations and calculate company-specific
subsidy rates for each company. In the event Commerce determines that
the number of companies is large and it cannot individually examine
each company based upon its resources,
[[Page 38853]]
where appropriate, Commerce intends to select mandatory respondents
based on U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) data for U.S. imports
under the appropriate Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States
numbers listed in the ``Scope of the Investigation,'' in the appendix
to this notice.
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\28\ See Volume I of the Petition at 14 and Exhibit I-8.
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On June 16, 2020, Commerce released CBP data on imports of
passenger tires from Vietnam under Administrative Protective Order
(APO) to all parties with access to information protected by APO and
indicated that interested parties wishing to comment on the CBP data or
respondent selection must do so within three business days of the
publication date of the notice of initiation of this CVD
investigation.\29\ Comments must be filed electronically using ACCESS.
An electronically-filed document must be received successfully in its
entirety via ACCESS by 5:00 p.m. ET on the specified deadline. Commerce
will not accept rebuttal comments regarding the CBP data or respondent
selection.
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\29\ See Memorandum, ``Countervailing Duty Investigation of
Passenger Tires: Release of Customs Data from U.S. Customs and
Border Protection,'' dated June 16, 2020.
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Interested parties must submit applications for disclosure under
APO in accordance with 19 CFR 351.305(b). Instructions for filing such
applications may be found on Commerce's website at http://enforcement.trade.gov/apo.
Distribution of Copies of the CVD Petition
In accordance with section 702(b)(4)(A)(i) of the Act and 19 CFR
351.202(f), a copy of the public version of the Petition has been
provided to the GOV via ACCESS. To the extent practicable, Commerce
will attempt to provide a copy of the public version of the Petition to
each exporter named in the Petition, as provided under 19 CFR
351.203(c)(2).
ITC Notification
Commerce will notify the ITC of our initiation, as required by
section 702(d) of the Act.
Preliminary Determination by the ITC
The ITC will preliminarily determine, within 45 days after the date
on which the Petition was filed, whether there is a reasonable
indication that imports of passenger tires from Vietnam are materially
injuring, or threatening material injury to, a U.S. industry. A
negative ITC determination will result in the investigation being
terminated. Otherwise, this investigation will proceed according to
statutory and regulatory time limits.
Submission of Factual Information
Factual information is defined in 19 CFR 351.102(b)(21) as: (i)
evidence submitted in response to questionnaires; (ii) evidence
submitted in support of allegations; (iii) publicly available
information to value factors under 19 CFR 351.408(c) or to measure the
adequacy of remuneration under 19 CFR 351.511(a)(2); (iv) evidence
placed on the record by Commerce; and (v) evidence other than factual
information described in (i)-(iv). Any party, when submitting factual
information, must specify under which subsection of 19 CFR
351.102(b)(21) the information is being submitted \30\ and, if the
information is submitted to rebut, clarify, or correct factual
information already on the record, to provide an explanation
identifying the information already on the record that the factual
information seeks to rebut, clarify, or correct.\31\ Time limits for
the submission of factual information are addressed in 19 CFR 351.301,
which provides specific time limits based on the type of factual
information being submitted. Interested parties should review the
regulations prior to submitting factual information in this
investigation.
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\30\ See 19 CFR 351.301(b).
\31\ See 19 CFR 351.301(b)(2).
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Extension of Time Limits
Parties may request an extension of time limits before the
expiration of a time limit established under 19 CFR 351.301, or as
otherwise specified by Commerce. In general, an extension request will
be considered untimely if it is filed after the expiration of the time
limit established under 19 CFR 351.301. For submissions that are due
from multiple parties simultaneously, an extension request will be
considered untimely if it is filed after 10:00 a.m. ET on the due date.
Under certain circumstances, Commerce may elect to specify a different
time limit by which extension requests will be considered untimely for
submissions which are due from multiple parties simultaneously. In such
a case, Commerce will inform parties in a letter or memorandum of the
deadline (including a specified time) by which extension requests must
be filed to be considered timely. An extension request must be made in
a separate, stand-alone submission; under limited circumstances
Commerce will grant untimely-filed requests for the extension of time
limits. Parties should review Extension of Time Limits, 78 FR 57790
(September 20, 2013), available at http://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/FR-2013-09-20/html/2013-22853.htm, prior to submitting factual information
in this investigation.
Certification Requirements
Any party submitting factual information in an AD or CVD proceeding
must certify to the accuracy and completeness of that information.\32\
Parties must use the certification formats provided in 19 CFR
351.303(g).\33\ Commerce intends to reject factual submissions if the
submitting party does not comply with the applicable certification
requirements.
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\32\ See section 782(b) of the Act.
\33\ See Certification of Factual Information to Import
Administration During Antidumping and Countervailing Duty
Proceedings, 78 FR 42678 (July 17, 2013) (Final Rule). Answers to
frequently asked questions regarding the Final Rule are available at
http://enforcement.trade.gov/tlei/notices/factual_info_final_rule_FAQ_07172013.pdf.
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Notification to Interested Parties
Interested parties must submit applications for disclosure under
APO in accordance with 19 CFR 351.305. Instructions for filing such
applications may be found on the Commerce website at http://enforcement.trade.gov/apo. Parties wishing to participate in this
investigation should ensure that they meet the requirements of 19 CFR
351.103(d) (e.g., by filing a notice of appearance). Note that Commerce
has temporarily modified certain portions of its requirements for
serving documents containing business proprietary information, until
July 17, 2020, unless extended.\34\
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\34\ See Temporary Rule Modifying AD/CVD Service Requirements
Due to COVID-19; Extension of Effective Period, 85 FR 29615 (May18,
2020).
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This notice is issued and published pursuant to sections 702(c)(2)
and 777(i) of the Act, and 19 CFR 351.203(c).
Dated: June 22, 2020.
Jeffrey I. Kessler,
Assistant Secretary for Enforcement and Compliance.
Appendix--Scope of the Investigation
The scope of this investigation is passenger vehicle and light
truck tires. Passenger vehicle and light truck tires are new
pneumatic tires, of rubber, with a passenger vehicle or light truck
size designation. Tires covered by this investigation may be tube-
type, tubeless, radial, or non-radial, and they may be intended for
sale to original equipment manufacturers or the replacement market.
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 the following prefixes or suffix in their tire size
[[Page 38854]]
designation, which also appears on the sidewall of the tire:
Prefix designations:
P--Identifies a tire intended primarily for service on passenger
cars.
LT--Identifies a tire intended primarily for service on light
trucks.
Suffix letter designations:
LT--Identifies light truck tires for service on trucks, buses,
trailers, and multipurpose passenger vehicles used in nominal
highway service.
All tires with a ``P'' or ``LT'' prefix, and all tires with an
``LT'' suffix in their sidewall markings are covered by this
investigation regardless of their intended use.
In addition, all tires that lack a ``P'' or ``LT'' prefix or
suffix in their sidewall markings, as well as all tires that include
any other prefix or suffix in their sidewall markings, are included
in the scope, regardless of their intended use, as long as the tire
is of a size that fits passenger cars or light trucks. Sizes that
fit passenger cars and light trucks include, but are not limited to,
the numerical size designations listed in the passenger car section
or light truck section of the Tire and Rim Association Year Book, as
updated annually. The scope includes all tires that are of a size
that fits passenger cars or light trucks, unless the tire falls
within one of the specific exclusions set out below.
Passenger vehicle and light truck tires, whether or not attached
to wheels or rims, are included in the scope. However, if a subject
tire is imported attached to a wheel or rim, only the tire is
covered by the scope.
Specifically excluded from the scope are the following types of
tires:
(1) Racing car tires; such tires do not bear the symbol ``DOT''
on the sidewall and may be marked with ``ZR'' in size designation;
(2) pneumatic tires, of rubber, that are not new, including
recycled and retreaded tires;
(3) non-pneumatic tires, such as solid rubber tires;
(4) tires designed and marketed exclusively as temporary use
spare tires for passenger vehicles which, in addition, exhibit each
of the following physical characteristics:
(a) The size designation and load index combination molded on
the tire's sidewall are listed in Table PCT-1B (``T'' Type Spare
Tires for Temporary Use on Passenger Vehicles) or PCT-1B (``T'' Type
Diagonal (Bias) Spare Tires for Temporary Use on Passenger Vehicles)
of the Tire and Rim Association Year Book,
(b) the designation ``T'' is molded into the tire's sidewall as
part of the size designation, and,
(c) the tire's speed rating is molded on the sidewall,
indicating the rated speed in MPH or a letter rating as listed by
Tire and Rim Association Year Book, and the rated speed is 81 MPH or
a ``M'' rating;
(5) tires designed and marketed exclusively for specialty tire
(ST) use which, in addition, exhibit each of the following
conditions:
(a) The size designation molded on the tire's sidewall is listed
in the ST sections of the Tire and Rim Association Year Book,
(b) the designation ``ST'' is molded into the tire's sidewall as
part of the size designation,
(c) the tire incorporates a warning, prominently molded on the
sidewall, that the tire is ``For Trailer Service Only'' or ``For
Trailer Use Only'',
(d) the load index molded on the tire's sidewall meets or
exceeds those load indexes listed in the Tire and Rim Association
Year Book for the relevant ST tire size, and
(e) either
(i) the tire's speed rating is molded on the sidewall,
indicating the rated speed in MPH or a letter rating as listed by
Tire and Rim Association Year Book, and the rated speed does not
exceed 81 MPH or an ``M'' rating; or
(ii) the tire's speed rating molded on the sidewall is 87 MPH or
an ``N'' rating, and in either case the tire's maximum pressure and
maximum load limit are molded on the sidewall and either
(1) both exceed the maximum pressure and maximum load limit for
any tire of the same size designation in either the passenger car or
light truck section of the Tire and Rim Association Year Book; or
(2) if the maximum cold inflation pressure molded on the tire is
less than any cold inflation pressure listed for that size
designation in either the passenger car or light truck section of
the Tire and Rim Association Year Book, the maximum load limit
molded on the tire is higher than the maximum load limit listed at
that cold inflation pressure for that size designation in either the
passenger car or light truck section of the Tire and Rim Association
Year Book;
(6) tires designed and marketed exclusively for off-road use and
which, in addition, exhibit each of the following physical
characteristics:
(a) The size designation and load index combination molded on
the tire's sidewall are listed in the off-the-road, agricultural,
industrial or ATV section of the Tire and Rim Association Year Book,
(b) in addition to any size designation markings, the tire
incorporates a warning, prominently molded on the sidewall, that the
tire is ``Not For Highway Service'' or ``Not for Highway Use'',
(c) the tire's speed rating is molded on the sidewall,
indicating the rated speed in MPH or a letter rating as listed by
the Tire and Rim Association Year Book, and the rated speed does not
exceed 55 MPH or a ``G'' rating, and
(d) the tire features a recognizable off-road tread design.
The products covered by this investigation are currently
classified under the following Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the
United States (HTSUS) subheadings: 4011.10.10.10, 4011.10.10.20,
4011.10.10.30, 4011.10.10.40, 4011.10.10.50, 4011.10.10.60,
4011.10.10.70, 4011.10.50.00, 4011.20.10.05, and 4011.20.50.10.
Tires meeting the scope description may also enter under the
following HTSUS subheadings: 4011.90.10.10, 4011.90.10.50,
4011.90.20.10, 4011.90.20.50, 4011.90.80.10, 4011.90.80.50,
8708.70.45.30, 8708.70.45.46, 8708.70.45.48, 8708.70.45.60,
8708.70.60.30, 8708.70.60.45, and 8708.70.60.60. While HTSUS
subheadings are provided for convenience and for customs purposes,
the written description of the subject merchandise is dispositive.
[FR Doc. 2020-13957 Filed 6-26-20; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-DS-P