JLG and Genie have joined together under the banner of the Coalition of American Manufacturers of Mobile Access Equipment, to petition the US government to investigate their concerns that some, or all, Chinese manufacturers are selling aerial work platforms in the USA at less than fair value supported, or made possible, by subsidies from the Chinese government.
The petition, filed with the International Trade Commission, was submitted on February 26th. In this preliminary phase, the commission has 45 days to determine whether there is a reasonable indication that the US industry has been ‘materially injured’, or is threatened with ‘material injury’. If it feels there may be a case to answer, it must notify the Department of Commerce by April 19th, which will then kick off a full investigation with calls for evidence and industry comment.
The published summary is as follows:
“The Commission hereby gives notice of the institution of investigations and commencement of preliminary phase antidumping and countervailing duty investigation Nos. 701–TA–665 and 731–TA–1557 (Preliminary) pursuant to the Tariff Act of 1930 (‘‘the Act’’) to determine whether there is a reasonable indication that 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 certain mobile access equipment and subassemblies there of (‘‘mobile access equipment’’) from China, provided for in statistical reporting numbers 8427.10.8020, 8427.10.8030, 8427.10.8070, 8427.10.8095, 8427.20.8020, 8427.20.8090, and 8431.20.0000 of the Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States, that are alleged to be sold in the United States at less than fair value and alleged to be subsidized by the Government of China.
Unless the Department of Commerce extends the time for initiation, the Commission must reach a preliminary determination in antidumping and countervailing duty investigations in 45 days, or in this case by April 12, 2021.”