The Timken Company (Timken), on June 28, 2017, filed an antidumping (AD) petition on certain tapered roller bearings from South Korea.

The U.S. AD law imposes special tariffs to counteract imports that are sold in the United States at less than “normal value.” For AD duties to be imposed, the U.S. government must determine not only that dumping is occurring, but also that there is “material injury” (or threat thereof) by reason of the dumped imports. Importers are liable for any potential AD duties imposed. In addition, these investigations could impact purchasers by increasing prices and/or decreasing supply of tapered roller bearings.

Scope

The scope of this investigation is certain tapered roller bearings. The scope covers all tapered roller bearings with a nominal outside cup diameter of eight inches and under, regardless of type of steel, whether of inch or metric size, and whether made of through-hardened steel or case hardened (case-carburized) steel. Certain tapered roller bearings include: finished cup and cone assemblies entering as a set, finished cone assemblies entering separately, and finished parts (cups, cones, and tapered rollers). Certain tapered roller bearings are sold individually as sets (cup and cone assembly), as a cone assembly, as a finished cup, or packaged as a kit with one or several tapered roller bearings, a seal, and grease. The scope of the petition includes finished rollers and finished cones that have not been assembled with rollers and a cage. Certain tapered roller bearings can be a single row or multiple rows (e.g., two- or four-row), and a cup can handle a single cone assembly or multiple cone assemblies. Included in the scope are thrust bearings. The scope of this investigation does not include unfinished parts of tapered roller bearings (cups, cones, and tapered rollers) and does not include cages, whether finished or unfinished. The scope does not include tapered roller bearing wheel hub units, rail bearings, and other housed tapered roller bearings (flange, take up cartridges, and hanger units incorporating tapered rollers). Tapered roller bearings that have a nominal outer cup diameter of eight inches and under that are used in wheel hub units, rail bearings, or other housed bearings, but entered separately, are included in the scope to the same extent as described above. All tapered roller bearings meeting the written description above are included, regardless of coating.

Tapered roller bearings subject to this investigation are primarily classifiable under subheadings 8482.20.0040, 8482.20.0061, 8482.20.0070, 8482.20.0081, 8482.91.0050, 8482.99.1550, and 8482.99.1580 of the Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States (“HTSUS”). Parts may also enter under 8482.99.4500. While the HTSUS subheadings are provided for convenience and for customs purposes, the written description of the subject merchandise is dispositive.

Alleged Dumping Margins

Timken alleges dumping margins exist ranging up to 143.3 percent.

Estimated Schedule of Investigations

• June 28, 2017 – Petition is filed

• July 18, 2017 – DOC initiates investigation

• July 19, 2017 – ITC staff conference (estimated)

• August 14, 2017 – Deadline for ITC preliminary injury determination

• December 5, 2017 – Deadline for DOC preliminary AD determination, if deadline not postponed

• January 24, 2018– Deadline for DOC preliminary AD determination, if deadline fully postponed

• June 8, 2018 – Deadline for DOC final AD determinations, if both preliminary and final AD determinations are fully postponed

• July 23, 2018 – Deadline for ITC final injury determination, assuming fully postponed DOC deadlines