On October 17, 2024, the U.S. International Trade Commission announced its determination regarding the five-year (sunset) reviews of antidumping and countervailing duty orders on steel wheels imported from China. The commission found that revoking these existing orders would likely lead to continued or recurrent material injury to the U.S. industry within a reasonably foreseeable timeframe. As a result, the current import restrictions on steel wheels from China will remain in effect, safeguarding domestic manufacturers.
Chair Amy A. Karpel, along with Commissioners David S. Johanson, Rhonda K. Schmidtlein, and Jason E. Kearns, voted in favor of maintaining the duties. Their decision reflects a commitment to ensuring that the U.S. steel wheel industry can compete fairly against foreign imports that have been found to be sold at unfairly low prices, a practice known as dumping. The USITC's ruling underscores the ongoing challenges faced by American manufacturers in the wake of global competition.
This action falls under the five-year review process mandated by the Uruguay Round Agreements Act. This act requires the U.S. Department of Commerce to review antidumping and countervailing duty orders every five years. If it is determined that revoking these orders could lead to further injury, they are kept in place. The USITC's role in this process is crucial, as it evaluates the potential impact on domestic industries and assesses the likelihood of material injury.
The review process for the steel wheels from China began on April 1, 2024. The commission initially evaluated the responses from interested parties and determined on July 5, 2024, that an expedited review was warranted. The decision to conduct expedited reviews was based on the adequacy of responses from domestic interested parties, indicating strong support for the continuation of the orders. In contrast, the response from foreign respondents was deemed inadequate, reflecting a lack of interest in challenging the orders.
The commission's public report, titled Steel Wheels from China (Inv. Nos. 701-TA-602 and 731-TA-1412 (Review), USITC Publication 5557, October 2024, will detail the commission’s views and findings. This report will be accessible on the USITC website by November 22, 2024. It is expected to include valuable information regarding the commission’s analysis and the data collected during the reviews, which will help inform future trade policy.
