91 FR 51509 · published 2026-08-10
· International Trade Commission
Mirrored from the Federal Register (retrieved 2026-08-08) —
the official copy is at federalregister.gov
(their site may ask for human verification).
The Commission hereby gives notice of the scheduling of the final phase of antidumping and countervailing duty investigation Nos. 701-TA-789 and 731-TA-1777 (Final) pursuant to the Tariff Act of 1930 to determine whether 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 truck bed covers from China, provided for in subheading 8708.29.51 of the Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States, preliminarily determined by the Department of Commerce ("Commerce") to be subsidized by the government of China. Commerce's preliminary determinations with respect to truck bed covers from China, alleged to be sold in the United States at less-than-fair-value, are pending.
[Federal Register Volume 91, Number 152 (Monday, August 10, 2026)]
[Notices]
[Pages 51509-51510]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2026-16195]
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INTERNATIONAL TRADE COMMISSION
[Investigation Nos. 701-TA-789 and 731-TA-1777 (Final)]
Truck Bed Covers From China; Scheduling of the Final Phase of
Countervailing Duty and Antidumping Duty Investigations
AGENCY: United States International Trade Commission.
ACTION: Notice.
SUMMARY: The Commission hereby gives notice of the scheduling of the
final phase of antidumping and countervailing duty investigation Nos.
701-TA-789 and 731-TA-1777 (Final) pursuant to the Tariff Act of 1930
to determine whether 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 truck bed covers from China, provided for in subheading
8708.29.51 of the Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States,
preliminarily determined by the Department of Commerce (``Commerce'')
to be subsidized by the government of China. Commerce's preliminary
determinations with respect to truck bed covers from China, alleged to
be sold in the United States at less-than-fair-value, are pending.
DATES: July 27, 2026.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Caitlyn Costello (202-205-2058),
Office of Investigations, U.S. International Trade Commission, 500 E
Street SW, Washington, DC 20436. Hearing-impaired persons can obtain
information on this matter by contacting the Commission's TDD terminal
on 202-205-1810. Persons with mobility impairments who will need
special assistance in gaining access to the Commission should contact
the Office of the Secretary at 202-205-2000. General information
concerning the Commission may also be obtained by accessing its
internet server (https://www.usitc.gov). The public record for these
investigations may be viewed on the Commission's electronic docket
(EDIS) at https://edis.usitc.gov.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Scope.--For purposes of these investigations, Commerce has defined
the subject merchandise as truck bed covers, which are protective
shields made of aluminum, steel, fiberglass, carbon fiber, plastic,
and/or water-resistant fabric that are sized to span the open-top area
of a pickup truck. When fully assembled and installed, truck bed covers
have a width between 45 and 75 inches (actual) and a length between 55
and 100 inches (actual), and can be used to secure the cargo area of a
pickup truck and/or repel water.
Truck bed covers typically encompass four general configurations--
i.e., folding, roll-up, one-piece, and retractable. Folding truck bed
covers consist of two or more interconnected, hinged panels which may
be made from a rigid material or a soft material with a rigid frame.
Roll-up truck bed covers can be made of soft material with rigid
crossbars, or rigid material such as slats, which allow the cover to
roll forward for access to the truck bed, and which can be secured with
straps, buckles, or other fasteners. One-piece truck bed covers are
rigid covers that open from the tailgate end of the truck bed using a
hinge or pivot, typically with the assistance of struts for opening and
closing. Retractable truck bed covers are made of interconnected rigid
slats or one-piece aluminum-reinforced polycarbonate that retract into
a recessed canister to allow access to the truck bed. Retractable truck
bed covers may be manually operated or electrically powered with a
motor, and electric models may include additional features such as fob
keys, Bluetooth connectivity, or LED lights.
The scope of the investigation includes not only the cover material
(i.e., the protective shield made of aluminum, steel, fiberglass,
carbon fiber, plastic, and/or water-resistant fabric), but also any
accompanying hardware for the mounting or storage of the truck bed
cover (e.g., rails, canisters, latches, straps, clasps, clamps, nuts,
bolts, washers, screws, hitch pins, weather strips/seals/gaskets) or
other parts (e.g., locks, struts, drain tubes, motors), provided that
such hardware or other parts are entered with and invoiced with the
cover material. Truck bed covers are included within the scope whether
or not they are accompanied with such hardware or other parts.
Moreover, any hardware for the mounting or storage of the truck bed
cover (e.g., rails, canisters, latches, straps, clasps, clamps, nuts,
bolts, washers, screws, hitch pins, weather strips/seals/gaskets) or
other parts (e.g., locks, struts, drain tubes, motors) are covered
within the scope if such items are separately entered as a truck bed
cover mounting or installation kit.
Excluded from the scope are truck caps (also known as camper
shells, toppers, or canopies), which are enclosures that can be mounted
on truck bed rails to extend the height of a truck bed by at least 12
inches (actual), thus creating a fully-enclosed, lockable storage area
for cargo.
Also excluded from the scope of the investigation are any products
already covered by the scope of any extant antidumping and/or
countervailing duty orders, including Aluminum Extrusions from the
People's Republic of China: Antidumping Duty Order, 76 FR 30650 (May
26, 2011), and Aluminum Extrusions from the People's Republic of China:
Countervailing Duty Order, 76 FR 30653 (May 26, 2011).
Background.--The final phase of these investigations is being
scheduled pursuant to sections 705(b) and 731(b) of the Tariff Act of
1930 (19 U.S.C. 1671d(b) and 1673d(b)), as a result of affirmative
preliminary determinations by Commerce that certain benefits which
constitute subsidies within the meaning of Sec. 703 of the Act (19
U.S.C. 1671b) are being provided to manufacturers, producers, or
exporters
in China of truck bed covers, and that such products are being sold in
the United States at less than fair value within the meaning of Sec.
733 of the Act (19 U.S.C. 1673b). The investigations were requested in
petitions filed on February 25, 2026, by RealTruck, Inc., Ann Arbor,
Michigan.
For further information concerning the conduct of this phase of the
investigations, hearing procedures, and rules of general application,
consult the Commission's Rules of Practice and Procedure, part 201,
subparts A and B (19 CFR part 201), and part 207, subparts A and C (19
CFR part 207).
Participation in the investigations and public service list.--
Persons, including industrial users of the subject merchandise and, if
the merchandise is sold at the retail level, representative consumer
organizations, wishing to participate in the final phase of these
investigations as parties must file an entry of appearance with the
Secretary to the Commission, as provided in Sec. 201.11 of the
Commission's rules, no later than 21 days prior to the hearing date
specified in this notice. A party that filed a notice of appearance
during the preliminary phase of the investigations need not file an
additional notice of appearance during this final phase. The Secretary
will maintain a public service list containing the names and addresses
of all persons, or their representatives, who are parties to the
investigations.
Please note the Secretary's Office will accept only electronic
filings during this time. Filings must be made through the Commission's
Electronic Document Information System (EDIS, https://edis.usitc.gov).
No in-person paper-based filings or paper copies of any electronic
filings will be accepted until further notice.
Limited disclosure of business proprietary information (BPI) under
an administrative protective order (APO) and BPI service list.--
Pursuant to Sec. 207.7(a) of the Commission's rules, the Secretary
will make BPI gathered in the final phase of these investigations
available to authorized applicants under the APO issued in the
investigations, provided that the application is made no later than 21
days prior to the hearing date specified in this notice. Authorized
applicants must represent interested parties, as defined by 19 U.S.C.
1677(9), who are parties to the investigations. A party granted access
to BPI in the preliminary phase of the investigations need not reapply
for such access. A separate service list will be maintained by the
Secretary for those parties authorized to receive BPI under the APO.
Staff report.--The prehearing staff report in the final phase of
these investigations will be placed in the nonpublic record on October
1, 2026, and a public version will be issued thereafter, pursuant to
Sec. 207.22 of the Commission's rules.
Hearing.--The Commission will hold a hearing in connection with the
final phase of these investigations beginning at 9:30 a.m. on October
15, 2026. Requests to appear at the hearing should be filed in writing
with the Secretary to the Commission on or before October 8, 2026. Any
requests to appear as a witness via videoconference must be included
with your request to appear. Requests to appear via videoconference
must include a statement explaining why the witness cannot appear in
person; the Chairman, or other person designated to conduct the
investigation, may in their discretion for good cause shown, grant such
a request. Requests to appear as a remote witness due to illness or a
positive COVID-19 test result may be submitted by 3:00 p.m. the
business day prior to the hearing. Further information about
participation in the hearing will be posted on the Commission's website
at https://www.usitc.gov/calendarpad/calendar.html.
A nonparty who has testimony that may aid the Commission's
deliberations may request permission to present a short statement at
the hearing. All parties and nonparties desiring to appear at the
hearing and make oral presentations should attend a prehearing
conference, if deemed necessary, to be held at 9:30 a.m. on October 13,
2026. Parties shall file and serve written testimony and presentation
slides in connection with their presentation at the hearing by no later
than noon on October 14, 2026. Oral testimony and written materials to
be submitted at the public hearing are governed by sections
201.6(b)(2), 201.13(f), and 207.24 of the Commission's rules. Parties
must submit any request to present a portion of their hearing testimony
in camera no later than 7 business days prior to the date of the
hearing.
Written submissions.--Each party who is an interested party shall
submit a prehearing brief to the Commission. Prehearing briefs must
conform with the provisions of Sec. 207.23 of the Commission's rules;
the deadline for filing is October 8, 2026. Parties shall also file
written testimony in connection with their presentation at the hearing,
and posthearing briefs, which must conform with the provisions of Sec.
207.25 of the Commission's rules. The deadline for filing posthearing
briefs is October 22, 2026. In addition, any person who has not entered
an appearance as a party to the investigations may submit a written
statement of information pertinent to the subject of the
investigations, including statements of support or opposition to the
petition, on or before October 22, 2026. On November 4, 2026, the
Commission will make available to parties all information on which they
have not had an opportunity to comment. Parties may submit final
comments on this information on or before November 6, 2026, but such
final comments must not contain new factual information and must
otherwise comply with Sec. 207.30 of the Commission's rules. All
written submissions must conform with the provisions of Sec. 201.8 of
the Commission's rules; any submissions that contain BPI must also
conform with the requirements of Sec. Sec. 201.6, 207.3, and 207.7 of
the Commission's rules. The Commission's Handbook on Filing Procedures,
available on the Commission's website at https://www.usitc.gov/documents/handbook_on_filing_procedures.pdf, elaborates upon the
Commission's procedures with respect to filings.
Additional written submissions to the Commission, including
requests pursuant to Sec. 201.12 of the Commission's rules, shall not
be accepted unless good cause is shown for accepting such submissions,
or unless the submission is pursuant to a specific request by a
Commissioner or Commission staff.
In accordance with Sec. Sec. 201.16(c) and 207.3 of the
Commission's rules, each document filed by a party to the
investigations must be served on all other parties to the
investigations (as identified by either the public or BPI service
list), and a certificate of service must be timely filed. The Secretary
will not accept a document for filing without a certificate of service.
Authority: These investigations are being conducted under authority
of title VII of the Tariff Act of 1930; this notice is published
pursuant to Sec. 207.21 of the Commission's rules.
By order of the Commission.
Issued: August 5, 2026.
Lisa Barton,
Secretary to the Commission.
[FR Doc. 2026-16195 Filed 8-7-26; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 7020-02-P
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