US finds China dumped subsidised trailers

Washington, Aug 29 (AHN) The US Commerce Department has concluded that Chinese van-type trailers were heavily subsidised and sold in the American market below fair value, opening the way for steep trade duties if a separate federal investigation finds harm to US manufacturers.

Commerce calculated a countervailable subsidy rate of 134.75 per cent for Chinese producers and exporters. It separately determined a China-wide dumping margin of 130.86 per cent.

The corresponding antidumping cash-deposit rate, after adjustment for export subsidies, was set at 129.73 per cent.

The final determinations cover large enclosed trailers used for transporting goods and a broad range of finished and unfinished subassemblies. The findings will become applicable on August 31, when the notices are scheduled for publication in the Federal Register.

Commerce said financial contributions provided by a government authority had given specific benefits to Chinese producers. The subsidy investigation covered the period from January through December 2024. The dumping inquiry examined sales made between April and September 2025.

CIMC Baowell Industries and Qingdao CIMC Reefer Trailer were selected as the principal respondents in the subsidy investigation.

CIMC withdrew from further participation before the verification stage. Commerce consequently relied on available information and applied an adverse inference in determining the final subsidy rate.

US Customs and Border Protection has already been directed to suspend the final processing of covered Chinese imports and collect provisional cash deposits.

The investigations also cover some Chinese trailer parts routed through Canada.

Importers of Chinese subassemblies or trailers containing those components must use specially established third-country case numbers. Only the Chinese portion and accompanying components are subject to the China-related duties.

The scope covers finished and unfinished van-type trailers weighing more than 26,000 pounds. It includes trailer frames, walls, roofs, doors, landing gear, axle assemblies, brakes, electrical systems, wheels and refrigeration units.

Processing or assembling the merchandise in another country does not automatically remove it from the investigation, Commerce said.

The trade action is not yet complete. The US International Trade Commission must decide within 45 days whether the American trailer industry has suffered material injury or faces a threat of injury because of the Chinese imports.