U.S. investigates dumping of 53-foot trailers from China

   The U.S. Commerce Department this week initiated antidumping and countervailing duty investigations into imports of 53-foot domestic dry containers from China.
   Dumping occurs when a foreign company sells a product in the United States at less than its fair value, while countervailable subsidies are  financial assistance from overseas governments that benefit the production of domestic goods and are contingent either upon export performance or the use of domestic goods over imported goods.
   The petition of the investigation is Stoughton Trailers in Wisconsin.
   The Commerce Department said its investigation involves refrigerated containers; trailers, where the cargo box and rear wheeled chassis are of integrated construction, and the cargo box of the unit may not be separated from the chassis for further intermodal transport; and container chassis.
   In 2013, the Commerce Department recorded imports of 53-foot domestic dry containers from China at an estimated value of $184.2 million.
   The U.S. International Trade Commission is scheduled to make its preliminary injury determinations by June 9.
   If the ITC preliminarily determines that there is a reasonable indication that imports of 53-foot domestic dry containers from China harm U.S. domestic manufacturers of this equipment, the investigations will continue, and Commerce will be scheduled to announce its preliminary countervailing duty determination in July and its preliminary antidumping determination in October, unless the statutory deadlines are extended.
   If the ITC’s preliminary determinations are negative, the investigations will be terminated, the Commerce Department said.