May 1, 2020
News Release 20-038
Inv. No(s). 701-TA-643 and 731-TA-1493 (Preliminary)
Contact: Peg O'Laughlin, 202-205-1819
USITC Votes to Continue Investigations Concerning Small Vertical Shaft Engines from China

The United States International Trade Commission (USITC) today determined that there is a reasonable indication that a U.S. industry is materially injured by reason of imports of small vertical shaft engines from China that are allegedly subsidized and sold in the United States at less than fair value. 

Chairman David S. Johanson and Commissioners Rhonda K. Schmidtlein, Jason E. Kearns, Randolph J. Stayin, and Amy A. Karpel voted in the affirmative.

As a result of the Commission’s affirmative determinations, the U.S. Department of Commerce will continue with its antidumping and countervailing duty investigations concerning imports of this product from China, with its preliminary countervailing duty determination due on or about June 11, 2020, and its antidumping duty determination due on or about August 25, 2020.

The Commission’s public report Small Vertical Shaft Engines from China (Inv. Nos. 701-TA-643 and 731-TA-1493 (Preliminary), USITC Publication 5054, May 2020) will contain the views of the Commission and information developed during the investigations.

The report will be available after June 1, 2020; when available, it may be accessed on the USITC website at:  https://www.usitc.gov/commission_publications_library.


UNITED STATES INTERNATIONAL TRADE COMMISSION
Washington, DC 20436

FACTUAL HIGHLIGHTS

Small Vertical Shaft Engines from China
Investigation Nos. 701-TA-643 and 731-TA-1493 (Preliminary)

Product Description:  Spark-ignited, non-road, vertical shaft engines, whether finished or unfinished, whether assembled or unassembled, whether mounted or unmounted, primarily for walk-behind lawn mowers. Engines meeting this physical description may also be for other non-hand-held outdoor power equipment, including but not limited to, pressure washers. The subject engines are spark ignition, single-cylinder, air cooled, internal combustion engines with vertical power take off shafts with a minimum displacement of 99 cubic centimeters (cc) and a maximum displacement of up to, but not including, 225cc. Typically, engines with displacements of this size generate gross power of between 1.95 kilowatts (kw) to 4.75 kw.

Status of Proceedings:

1.   Type of investigation:  Preliminary phase antidumping duty and countervailing duty investigations.
2.   Petitioners:  Briggs & Stratton Corporation, Wauwatosa, WI.
3.   USITC Institution Date:  Wednesday, March 18, 2020.
4.   USITC Conference Date:  Wednesday, April 8, 2020.
5.   USITC Vote Date:  Friday, May 1, 2020.
6.   USITC Notification to Commerce Date:  Monday, May 4, 2020.

U.S. Industry in 2019:

1.   Number of U.S. producers:  2.
2.   Location of producers’ plants:  Kentucky, North Carolina, and Wisconsin.
3.   Production and related workers:  [1]
4.   U.S. producers’ U.S. shipments:  1
5.   Apparent U.S. consumption:  1
6.   Ratio of subject imports to apparent U.S. consumption:  1

U.S. Imports in 2019:

1.   Subject imports:  1
2.   Nonsubject imports:  1
3.   Leading import sources:  China.

 

[1] Withheld to avoid disclosure of business proprietary information.

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