U.S. Commerce postpones countervailing duty determination in Chinese steel wheel case

The U.S. Department of Commerce has postponed its preliminary determination on steel wheel imports from China, to Jan. 7 from the original date of Nov. 1.

Dexstar Wheel Co. Ltd., an Elkhart, Ind.-based steel wheel manufacturer, petitioned the International Trade Commission in early August requesting relief from Chinese imports of steel tubeless tire wheels of 12 to 16.5 inches in diameter.

Dexstar asked for countervailing and antidumping duties on Chinese wheels under Sections 701 and 731 of the Trade Act.

In September, the ITC voted to continue the investigation, finding a reasonable indication of material injury to the U.S. steel wheel industry because of Chinese imports.

On Sept. 25, Dexstar contacted Commerce requesting a postponement of the preliminary countervailing duty finding due Nov. 1. Dexstar asked for the delay to give the agency time to solicit information from the Chinese steel wheel manufacturers and analyze their responses.

Commerce granted Dexstar's request in an Oct. 15 Federal Register notice.

Commerce's preliminary determination on antidumping duties in the Chinese steel wheels case is still due on or about Jan. 15.