AD/CVD investigation begins for Chinese and Canadian iron mechanical transfer drive components

The US Department of Commerce announced Thursday the initiation of antidumping duty (AD) and countervailing duty (CVD) investigations of imports of certain iron mechanical transfer drive components from China and an AD investigation of imports of certain iron mechanical transfer drive components from Canada. 

Alleged dumping margins:
China: 67.82 to 401.68 percent
Canada: 9.60 to 191.34 percent 

China’s estimated subsidy rate is above de minimis.

The products covered by these investigations are iron mechanical transfer drive components, whether finished or unfinished (i.e., blanks or castings).  Subject iron mechanical transfer drive components are in the form of wheels or cylinders with a center bore hole that may have one or more grooves or teeth in their outer circumference that guide or mesh with a flat or ribbed belt or like device and are often referred to as sheaves, pulleys, flywheels, flat pulleys, idlers, conveyer pulleys, synchronous sheaves, and timing pulleys.  The products covered by these investigations also include bushings, which are iron mechanical transfer drive components in the form of a cylinder and which fit into the bore holes of other mechanical transfer drive components to lock them into drive shafts by means of elements such as teeth, bolts, or screws. 

In 2014, imports of certain iron mechanical transfer drive components from China and Canada were valued at an estimated $274.3 million and $222.3 million, respectively.   

The petitioner for these investigations is TB Wood’s Incorporated.   

The US International Trade Commission (ITC) is scheduled to make its preliminary injury determinations on or before December 14, 2015. If the ITC determines that there is a reasonable indication that imports of certain iron mechanical transfer drive components from China and/or Canada materially injure, or threaten material injury to, the domestic industry, the investigations will continue and Commerce will be scheduled to make its preliminary CVD determination in January 2016 and its preliminary AD determinations in April 2016, unless the statutory deadlines are extended.  If the ITC’s preliminary determinations are negative, the investigations will be terminated.