[Federal Register Volume 86, Number 9 (Thursday, January 14, 2021)]
[Notices]
[Pages 3193-3195]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2021-00622]


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INTERNATIONAL TRADE COMMISSION

[Investigation Nos. 701-TA-657 and 731-TA-1537 (Final)]


Chassis From China; Scheduling of the Final Phase of 
Countervailing Duty and Antidumping Duty Investigations

AGENCY: United States International Trade Commission.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: The Commission hereby gives notice of the scheduling of the 
final phase of antidumping and countervailing duty investigation Nos. 
701-TA-657 and 731-TA-1537 (Final) pursuant to the Tariff Act of 1930 
(``the Act'') to determine whether an industry in the United States is 
materially injured or threatened with material injury, or the 
establishment of an industry in the United States is materially 
retarded, by reason of imports of chassis from China, provided for in 
subheadings 8716.39.00 and 8716.90.50 of the Harmonized Tariff Schedule 
of the United States, preliminarily determined by the Department of 
Commerce (``Commerce'') to be subsidized. The determination with 
respect to imports of chassis alleged to be sold at less-than-fair-
value is pending.

DATE: December 28, 2020.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ahdia Bavari ((202) 205-3191), Office 
of Investigations, U.S. International Trade Commission, 500 E Street 
SW, Washington, DC 20436. Hearing-impaired persons can obtain 
information on this matter by contacting the Commission's TDD terminal 
on 202-205-1810. Persons with mobility impairments who will need 
special assistance in gaining access to the Commission should contact 
the Office of the Secretary at 202-205-2000. General information 
concerning the Commission may also be obtained by accessing its 
internet server (https://www.usitc.gov). The public record for these 
investigations may be viewed on the Commission's electronic docket 
(EDIS) at https://edis.usitc.gov.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 
    Scope.--For purposes of these investigations, Commerce has defined 
the subject merchandise as ``chassis and subassemblies thereof, whether 
finished or unfinished, whether assembled or unassembled, whether 
coated or uncoated, regardless of the number of axles, for carriage of 
containers, or other payloads (including self-supporting payloads) for 
road, marine roll-on/roll-off (RORO) and/or rail transport. Chassis are 
typically, but are not limited to, rectangular framed trailers with a 
suspension and axle system, wheels and tires, brakes, a lighting and 
electrical system, a coupling for towing behind a truck tractor, and a 
locking system or systems to secure the shipping container or 
containers to the chassis using twistlocks, slide pins or similar 
attachment devices to engage the corner fittings on the container or 
other payload.
    Subject merchandise includes, but is not limited to, the following 
subassemblies:
     Chassis frames, or sections of chassis frames, including 
kingpins or kingpin assemblies, bolsters consisting of transverse beams 
with locking or support mechanisms, goosenecks, drop assemblies, 
extension mechanisms and/or rear impact guards;
     Running gear assemblies or axle assemblies for connection 
to the chassis frame, whether fixed in nature or capable of sliding 
fore and aft or lifting up and lowering down, which may or may not 
include suspension(s) (mechanical or pneumatic), wheel end components, 
slack adjusters, axles, brake chambers, locking pins, and tires and 
wheels;
     Landing gear (legs) or landing gear assemblies, for 
connection to the chassis frame, capable of supporting the chassis when 
it is not engaged to a tractor; and

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     Assemblies and/or components that connect to the chassis 
frame or a section of the chassis frame, such as, but not limited to, 
pintle hooks or B-trains (which include a fifth wheel), which are 
capable of connecting a chassis to a converter dolly or another 
chassis.
    Importation of any of these subassemblies, whether assembled or 
unassembled, constitutes an unfinished chassis for purposes of this 
investigation.
    Subject merchandise also includes chassis, whether finished or 
unfinished, entered with or for further assembly with components such 
as, but not limited to: Hub and drum assemblies, brake assemblies 
(either drum or disc), axles, brake chambers, suspensions and 
suspension components, wheel end components, landing gear legs, spoke 
or disc wheels, tires, brake control systems, electrical harnesses and 
lighting systems.
    Processing of finished and unfinished chassis and components such 
as trimming, cutting, grinding, notching, punching, drilling, painting, 
coating, staining, finishing, assembly, or any other processing either 
in the country of manufacture of the in-scope product or in a third 
country does not remove the product from the scope. Inclusion of other 
components not identified as comprising the finished or unfinished 
chassis does not remove the product from the scope.
    This scope excludes dry van trailers, refrigerated van trailers and 
flatbed trailers. Dry van trailers are trailers with a wholly enclosed 
cargo space comprised of fixed sides, nose, floor and roof, with 
articulated panels (doors) across the rear and occasionally at selected 
places on the sides, with the cargo space being permanently 
incorporated in the trailer itself. Refrigerated van trailers are 
trailers with a wholly enclosed cargo space comprised of fixed sides, 
nose, floor and roof, with articulated panels (doors) across the rear 
and occasionally at selected places on the sides, with the cargo space 
being permanently incorporated in the trailer and being insulated, 
possessing specific thermal properties intended for use with self-
contained refrigeration systems. Flatbed (or platform) trailers consist 
of load-carrying main frames and a solid, flat or stepped loading deck 
or floor permanently incorporated with and supported by frame rails and 
cross members.
    The finished and unfinished chassis subject to this investigation 
are typically classified in the Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the 
United States (HTSUS) at subheadings 8716.39.00 or 8716.90.50 
(statistical reporting numbers 8716.39.0090 or 8716.90.5060). Imports 
of finished and unfinished chassis may also be reported under HTSUS 
statistical reporting number 8716.90.5010. While the HTSUS subheadings 
are provided for convenience and customs purposes, the written 
description of the merchandise under investigation is dispositive.''
    Background.--The final phase of these investigations is being 
scheduled pursuant to section 705(b) of the Tariff Act of 1930 (19 
U.S.C. 1671d(b)), as a result of an affirmative preliminary 
determination by Commerce that certain benefits which constitute 
subsidies within the meaning of Sec.  703 of the Act (19 U.S.C. 1671b) 
are being provided to manufacturers, producers, or exporters in China 
of chassis. The investigations were requested in petitions filed on 
July 30, 2020, by the Coalition of American Chassis Manufacturers, 
consisting of Cheetah Chassis Corporation, Fairless Hills, 
Pennsylvania, Hercules Enterprises, LLC, Hillsborough, New Jersey, 
Pitts Enterprises, Inc., Pittsview, Alabama, Pratt Industries, Inc., 
Bridgman, Michigan, and Stoughton Trailers, LLC, Stoughton, Wisconsin.
    For further information concerning the conduct of this phase of the 
investigations, hearing procedures, and rules of general application, 
consult the Commission's Rules of Practice and Procedure, part 201, 
subparts A and B (19 CFR part 201), and part 207, subparts A and C (19 
CFR part 207).
    Participation in the investigations and public service list.--
Persons, including industrial users of the subject merchandise and, if 
the merchandise is sold at the retail level, representative consumer 
organizations, wishing to participate in the final phase of these 
investigations as parties must file an entry of appearance with the 
Secretary to the Commission, as provided in Sec.  201.11 of the 
Commission's rules, no later than 21 days prior to the hearing date 
specified in this notice. A party that filed a notice of appearance 
during the preliminary phase of the investigations need not file an 
additional notice of appearance during this final phase. The Secretary 
will maintain a public service list containing the names and addresses 
of all persons, or their representatives, who are parties to the 
investigations.
    Please note the Secretary's Office will accept only electronic 
filings during this time. Filings must be made through the Commission's 
Electronic Document Information System (EDIS, https://edis.usitc.gov.) 
No in-person paper-based filings or paper copies of any electronic 
filings will be accepted until further notice.
    Limited disclosure of business proprietary information (BPI) under 
an administrative protective order (APO) and BPI service list.--
Pursuant to Sec.  207.7(a) of the Commission's rules, the Secretary 
will make BPI gathered in the final phase of these investigations 
available to authorized applicants under the APO issued in the 
investigations, provided that the application is made no later than 21 
days prior to the hearing date specified in this notice. Authorized 
applicants must represent interested parties, as defined by 19 U.S.C. 
1677(9), who are parties to the investigations. A party granted access 
to BPI in the preliminary phase of the investigations need not reapply 
for such access. A separate service list will be maintained by the 
Secretary for those parties authorized to receive BPI under the APO.
    Staff report.--The prehearing staff report in the final phase of 
these investigations will be placed in the nonpublic record on March 4, 
2021, and a public version will be issued thereafter, pursuant to Sec.  
207.22 of the Commission's rules.
    Hearing.--The Commission will hold a hearing in connection with the 
final phase of these investigations beginning at 9:30 a.m. on Tuesday, 
March 16, 2021. Information about the place and form of the hearing, 
including about how to participate in and/or view the hearing, will be 
posted on the Commission's website at https://www.usitc.gov/calendarpad/calendar.html. Interested parties should check the 
Commission's website periodically for updates. Requests to appear at 
the hearing should be filed in writing with the Secretary to the 
Commission on or before Thursday, March 11, 2021. A nonparty who has 
testimony that may aid the Commission's deliberations may request 
permission to present a short statement at the hearing. All parties and 
nonparties desiring to appear at the hearing and make oral 
presentations should attend a prehearing conference to be held at 9:30 
a.m. on Monday, March 15, 2021. Oral testimony and written materials to 
be submitted at the public hearing are governed by sections 
201.6(b)(2), 201.13(f), and 207.24 of the Commission's rules. Parties 
must submit any request to present a portion of their hearing testimony 
in camera no later than 7 business days prior to the date of the 
hearing.
    Written submissions.--Each party who is an interested party shall 
submit a prehearing brief to the Commission. Prehearing briefs must 
conform with the

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provisions of Sec.  207.23 of the Commission's rules; the deadline for 
filing is March 10 2021. Parties may also file written testimony in 
connection with their presentation at the hearing, as provided in Sec.  
207.24 of the Commission's rules, and posthearing briefs, which must 
conform with the provisions of Sec.  207.25 of the Commission's rules. 
The deadline for filing posthearing briefs is March 24, 2021. In 
addition, any person who has not entered an appearance as a party to 
the investigations may submit a written statement of information 
pertinent to the subject of the investigations, including statements of 
support or opposition to the petition, on or before March 24, 2021. On 
April 8, 2021, the Commission will make available to parties all 
information on which they have not had an opportunity to comment. 
Parties may submit final comments on this information on or before 
April 12, 2021, but such final comments must not contain new factual 
information and must otherwise comply with Sec.  207.30 of the 
Commission's rules. All written submissions must conform with the 
provisions of Sec.  201.8 of the Commission's rules; any submissions 
that contain BPI must also conform with the requirements of Sec. Sec.  
201.6, 207.3, and 207.7 of the Commission's rules. The Commission's 
Handbook on Filing Procedures, available on the Commission's website at 
https://www.usitc.gov/documents/handbook_on_filing_procedures.pdf, 
elaborates upon the Commission's procedures with respect to filings.
    Additional written submissions to the Commission, including 
requests pursuant to Sec.  201.12 of the Commission's rules, shall not 
be accepted unless good cause is shown for accepting such submissions, 
or unless the submission is pursuant to a specific request by a 
Commissioner or Commission staff.
    In accordance with Sec. Sec.  201.16(c) and 207.3 of the 
Commission's rules, each document filed by a party to the 
investigations must be served on all other parties to the 
investigations (as identified by either the public or BPI service 
list), and a certificate of service must be timely filed. The Secretary 
will not accept a document for filing without a certificate of service.
    Authority: These investigations are being conducted under authority 
of title VII of the Tariff Act of 1930; this notice is published 
pursuant to Sec.  207.21 of the Commission's rules.

    By order of the Commission.

    Issued: January 8, 2021.
Lisa Barton,
Secretary to the Commission.
[FR Doc. 2021-00622 Filed 1-13-21; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 7020-02-P