Chinese OTR tire firms challenge US duties

New York – Two tire companies have challenged in court a decision by the US Department of Commerce on antidumping duty rates for Chinese OTR tires.

Qingdao Free Trade Zone Full-World International Trading Co. Ltd filed its complaint with the US Court of International Trade 29 April, the same day that Qingdao Qihang Tyre Co. Ltd. filed a separate complaint with the court.

Full-World and three other OTR tire importers received an antidumping duty rate of 70.55 percent in Commerce’s administrative review of antidumping duties for the period between 1 Sept 2013 and 31 Aug 2014.

In its complaint, Full-World said Commerce based its calculation of Full-World’s dumping margin on the weighted average dumping rate found for Qihang and another company, Xuzhou Xugong Tyres Co. Ltd. This calculation was contrary to law and not supported by substantial evidence, Full-World said.

Full-World wants the court to remand the antidumping duty rate to Commerce for recalculation, as well as whatever further relief the court deems appropriate.

Qingdao Qihang Tyre Co. Ltd. filed its complaint before the CIT 29 April, asking the court to remand Commerce’s 79.86-percent antidumping duty finding for Qihang, with instructions to issue a new determination, along with any further relief the courts deems just and proper.

The complaint stems from the April 20 Federal Register order from Commerce releasing the final results of an administrative review of antidumping duties on OTR tires imported from China between 1 Sept 2013, and 31 Aug 2014.

Commerce calculated importer-specific antidumping duty assessment amounts against Qihang and another importer, Xuzhou Xugong Tyres Co. Ltd., Commerce said in the notice. Those amounts were based on the ratio of the total amount of dumping duties calculated for the sales of the OTR tires in question to the total sales quantity of those tires.

According to Qihang, the criteria Commerce used to calculate antidumping duties against the company were not supported by evidence and thus contrary to law.

Qingdao, Shandong-based Qingdao Qihang Tyre was founded in 2000 and produces agricultural, industrial, forklift, OTR and bias trailer and truck trailer tires at its plant in Pingdu City, Shandong, under the Road Guider, Forerunner, Safeguard and Superguider brands, according to information posted on its website.