Spare Light Truck Tires Not Covered by Scope Ruling on Tires From Thailand, Commerce Says

An antidumping duty order on Taiwanese light truck tires doesn't cover a spare light truck tire model imported by Cheng Shin Rubber USA, Commerce said in a March 7 scope ruling. Like the company’s Thai tires, the products were for temporary use only and thus excluded from the order, it said (see 2401250038).

Cheng Shin said that the tire model is used “exclusively as a temporary-use, spare tire for light trucks and may not be used as a regular-service tire,” Commerce said. The model is stamped “For Light Truck Vehicle Use” and “Temporary Use Only” on the tire sidewall, and the design verification plan for the tire model likewise identifies it as a “spare” tire, it said.

In this case, the scope's language, including the description of the temporary tire exception, was clear, Commerce said. That exception lays out four physical requirements a tire model must meet to be excluded as a “temporary spare,” and Cheng Shin Rubber’s tires met them all, the department said. They have the proper size designation, they have a tread depth no greater than 6.2 mm, they are stamped “Temporary Use Only” and no tire quality grade standards are molded into the tire, it said.