Notice2026-08040

Certain Chassis and Sub assemblies There of From Mexico: Final Affirmative Countervailing Duty Determination

Primary source

Metadata and text below are from the Federal Register, a public-domain U.S. government work. Always verify the official published version before relying on it for any legal matter.

Published
April 24, 2026

Issuing agencies

Commerce DepartmentInternational Trade Administration

Abstract

The U.S. Department of Commerce (Commerce) determines that countervailable subsidies are being provided to producers and exporters of certain chassis and subassemblies thereof (chassis) from Mexico. The period of investigation is January 1, 2024, through December 31, 2024.

Full Text

<html>
<head>
<title>Federal Register, Volume 91 Issue 79 (Friday, April 24, 2026)</title>
</head>
<body><pre>
[Federal Register Volume 91, Number 79 (Friday, April 24, 2026)]
[Notices]
[Pages 22136-22139]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2026-08040]


-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

International Trade Administration

[C-201-866]


Certain Chassis and Sub assemblies There of From Mexico: Final 
Affirmative Countervailing Duty Determination

AGENCY: Enforcement and Compliance, International Trade Administration, 
Department of Commerce.
SUMMARY: The U.S. Department of Commerce (Commerce) determines that 
countervailable subsidies are being provided to producers and exporters 
of certain chassis and subassemblies thereof (chassis) from Mexico. The 
period of investigation is January 1, 2024, through December 31, 2024.

DATES: Applicable April 24, 2026.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Jose Rivera, AD/CVD Operations, Office 
VII, Enforcement and Compliance, International Trade Administration, 
U.S. Department of Commerce, 1401

[[Page 22137]]

Constitution Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20230; telephone: (202) 482-
0842.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

Background

    On August 1, 2025, Commerce published the Preliminary Determination 
in the Federal Register and invited interested parties to comment.\1\ 
In accordance with section 701(a)(1) of the Tariff Act of 1930, as 
amended (the Act), and 19 CFR 351.210(b)(4), Commerce aligned the final 
countervailing duty (CVD) determination with the final determination in 
the companion less-than-fair-value investigation of chassis from 
Mexico.\2\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \1\ See Certain Chassis and Subassemblies Thereof from Mexico: 
Preliminary Affirmative Countervailing Duty Determination and 
Alignment of Final Determination With Final Antidumping Duty 
Determination, 90 FR 36137 (August 1, 2025), and accompanying 
Preliminary Decision Memorandum.
    \2\ See Preliminary Determination, 90 FR at 36137.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Due to the lapse in appropriations and Federal Government shutdown, 
on November 14, 2025, Commerce tolled all deadlines in administrative 
proceedings by 47 days.\3\ Additionally, due to a backlog of documents 
that were electronically filed via Enforcement and Compliance's 
Antidumping and Countervailing Duty Centralized Electronic Service 
System (ACCESS) during the Federal Government shutdown, on November 24, 
2025, Commerce tolled all deadlines in administrative proceedings by an 
additional 21 days.\4\ Accordingly, the deadline for this final 
determination is now April 20, 2026.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \3\ See Memorandum, ``Deadlines Affected by the Shutdown of the 
Federal Government,'' dated November 14, 2025.
    \4\ See Memorandum, ``Tolling of all Case Deadlines,'' dated 
November 24, 2025.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    For a complete description of the events that followed the 
Preliminary Determination, see the Issues and Decision Memorandum.\5\ 
The Issues and Decision Memorandum is a public document and is on file 
electronically via ACCESS. ACCESS is available to registered users at 
<a href="https://access.trade.gov">https://access.trade.gov</a>. In addition, a complete version of the Issues 
and Decision Memorandum can be accessed directly at <a href="https://access.trade.gov/frnotices">https://access.trade.gov/frnotices</a>.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \5\ See Memorandum, ``Issues and Decision Memorandum for the 
Final Affirmative Determination in the Countervailing Duty 
Investigation of Chassis and Subassemblies Thereof from Mexico,'' 
dated concurrently with, and hereby adopted by, this notice (Issues 
and Decision Memorandum).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

Scope of the Investigation

    The products covered by this investigation are chassis from Mexico. 
For a complete description of the scope of this investigation, see 
Appendix I.

Scope Comments

    During the course of this investigation, Commerce received scope 
comments from interested parties. Commerce issued a Preliminary Scope 
Decision Memorandum to address these comments and set aside a period of 
time for parties to address scope issues in scope-specific case and 
rebuttal briefs.\6\ Between August 2025 and September 2025, Commerce 
received scope case and rebuttal briefs from interested parties.\7\ On 
February 10, 2026, the petitioner requested a scope exclusion.\8\ After 
analyzing these comments, we made changes to the scope of the 
investigation published in the Preliminary Determination, as noted in 
Appendix I.\9\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \6\ See Memorandum, ``Less Than Fair Value and Countervailing 
Duty Investigations of Certain Chassis and Subassemblies Thereof 
from Mexico, Thailand, and the Socialist Republic of Vietnam: 
Preliminary Scope Decision Memorandum,'' dated July 28, 2025 
(Preliminary Scope Decision Memorandum).
    \7\ See PJ Trailers Seminole Inc.'s Letter, ``PJ Trailers 
Seminole Inc.'s Scope Case Brief,'' dated August 27, 2025; see also 
Hyundai de Mexico S.A. de C.V.'s Letter, ``HT's Scope Case Brief,'' 
dated August 27, 2025; and Petitioner's Letter, ``Scope Rebuttal 
Brief,'' dated September 5, 2025.
    \8\ See Petitioner's Letter, ``Request Scope Exclusion,'' dated 
February 10, 2026.
    \9\ See Memorandum, ``Less Than Fair Value and Countervailing 
Duty Investigations of Certain Chassis and Subassemblies Thereof 
from Mexico, Thailand, and the Socialist Republic of Vietnam: Final 
Scope Decision Memorandum,'' dated concurrently with this notice.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

Analysis of Subsidy Programs and Comments Received

    The subsidy programs under investigation, and the issues raised in 
the case and rebuttal briefs submitted by parties in this 
investigation, are discussed in the Issues and Decision Memorandum. For 
a list of the issues raised by parties, and to which we responded in 
the Issues and Decision Memorandum, see Appendix II.

Methodology

    Commerce conducted this investigation in accordance with section 
701 of the Act. For each of the subsidy programs found countervailable, 
Commerce determines that there is a subsidy, i.e., a financial 
contribution by an ``authority'' that gives rise to a benefit to the 
recipient, and that the subsidy is specific.\10\ For a full description 
of the methodology underlying our preliminary determination, see the 
Issues and Decision Memorandum.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \10\ See sections 771(5)(B) and (D) of the Act regarding 
financial contribution; section 771(5)(E) of the Act regarding 
benefit; and section 771(5A) of the Act regarding specificity.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    In making this final determination, Commerce relied on facts 
otherwise available, including with an adverse inference, pursuant to 
sections 776(a) and (b) of the Act. For a full discussion of our 
application of adverse facts available (AFA), see the ``Use of Facts 
Otherwise Available and Application of Adverse Inferences'' section in 
the Issues and Decision Memorandum.

Changes Since the Preliminary Determination

    For this final determination, we revised the AFA rate from the 
Preliminary Determination applied to the sole mandatory respondent, 
Hyundai de Mexico S.A. de C.V. (HYMEX), and nine exporters and/or 
producers of chassis from Mexico that did not respond to the quantity 
and value (Q&V) questionnaire. For a discussion of these changes, see 
the Issues and Decision Memorandum.

All-Others Rate

    Sections 703(d) and 705(c)(5)(A) of the Act provide that Commerce 
shall determine an estimated all-others rate for companies not 
individually examined. This rate shall be an amount equal to the 
weighted average of the estimated subsidy rates established for those 
companies individually examined, excluding any zero and de minimis 
rates and any rates based entirely under section 776 of the Act.
    Pursuant to section 705(c)(5)(A)(ii) of the Act, if the individual 
estimated countervailable subsidy rates established for all exporters 
and producers individually examined are zero, de minimis, or determined 
based entirely on facts otherwise available, Commerce may use ``any 
reasonable method'' to establish the estimated subsidy rate for all 
other producers and/or exporters. In this investigation, the estimated 
subsidy rate for the individually examined respondents is based 
entirely on facts otherwise available, pursuant to section 776 of the 
Act. This is the only rate available in this proceeding for deriving 
the all-others rate. Consequently, the subsidy rate determined for 
HYMEX is also assigned as the subsidy rate for all other producers and/
or exporters.

Rate for Non-Responsive Companies

    The following nine exporters and/or producers of chassis from 
Mexico did not respond to the Q&V questionnaire: (1) BRD Trailers, S.A. 
de C.V.; (2) Carrocerias Gallegos S.A. de C.V.; (3) Commercializadora 
Nimmka; S.A. de C.V. (d/b/a Atro Remolques y

[[Page 22138]]

Carroceria); (4) Carrocerias Corpus Christi S.A. DE C.V.; (5) Fruehauf 
de Mexico; S.A. de C.V.; (6) Lodi Trailers; (7) Norstar Trailers Mexico 
S de R.L. de C.V. (d/b/a Iron Bull Trailers); (8) Semiremolques El 
Paisano S.A. de C.V.; and (9) Ventura Trailers (collectively, the non-
responsive companies). We find that, by not responding to the Q&V 
questionnaire, these companies withheld necessary information that was 
requested of them, failed to provide information within the deadlines 
established, and significantly impeded this proceeding. Thus, for this 
final determination, pursuant sections 776(a)(1) and (2)(A)-(C) of the 
Act, we are basing the countervailable subsidy rate for these non-
responsive companies on facts otherwise available.
    In addition, we determine that an adverse inference is warranted, 
pursuant to section 776(b) of the Act. By failing to submit responses 
to Commerce's Q&V questionnaire, these companies did not cooperate to 
the best of their ability in this investigation. Accordingly, we find 
that an adverse inference is warranted to ensure that these non-
responsive companies will not obtain a more favorable result than had 
they fully complied with our request for information.

Final Determination

    Commerce determines that the following estimated countervailable 
subsidy rates exist:

------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                            Subsidy rate
                          Company                            (percent ad
                                                              valorem)
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Hyundai de Mexico S.A. de C.V.............................        *76.91
BRD Trailers, S.A. de C.V.................................        *76.91
Carrocerias Gallegos S.A. de C.V..........................        *76.91
Commercializadora Nimmka, S.A. de C.V. (d/b/a Atro                *76.91
 Remolques y Carroceria)..................................
Carrocerias Corpus Christi S.A. DE C.V....................        *76.91
Fruehauf de Mexico, S.A. de C.V...........................        *76.91
Lodi Trailers.............................................        *76.91
Norstar Trailers Mexico S de R.L. de C.V. (d/b/a Iron Bull        *76.91
 Trailers)................................................
Semiremolques El Paisano S.A. de C.V......................        *76.91
Ventura Trailers..........................................        *76.91
All Others................................................         76.91
------------------------------------------------------------------------
* Rate based on facts available with adverse inferences.

Disclosure

    Commerce intends to disclose its calculations and analysis 
performed to interested parties in this final determination within five 
days of its public announcement, or if there is no public announcement, 
within five days of the date of publication of this notice in the 
Federal Register, in accordance with 19 CFR 351.224(b).

Continuation of Suspension of Liquidation

    As a result of our Preliminary Determination, and pursuant to 
sections 703(d)(1)(B) and (d)(2) of the Act, Commerce instructed U.S. 
Customs and Border Protection (CBP) to collect cash deposits and 
suspend liquidation of entries of subject merchandise as described in 
the scope of the investigation section entered, or withdrawn from 
warehouse, for consumption on or after August 1, 2025, the date of 
publication of the Preliminary Determination in the Federal Register. 
In accordance with section 703(d) of the Act, we instructed CBP to 
discontinue the suspension of liquidation of all entries of subject 
merchandise entered or withdrawn from warehouse, on or after November 
29, 2025, the first day provisional measures were no longer in effect, 
but to continue the suspension of liquidation of all entries of subject 
merchandise on or before November 28, 2025.
    If the U.S. International Trade Commission (ITC) issues a final 
affirmative injury determination, we will issue a CVD order, reinstate 
the suspension of liquidation under section 706(a) of the Act, and 
require a cash deposit of estimated countervailing duties for such 
entries of subject merchandise in the amounts indicated above. Pursuant 
to section 705(c)(2) of the Act, if the ITC determines that material 
injury, or threat of material injury, does not exist, this proceeding 
will be terminated, and all estimated duties deposited or securities 
posted as a result of the suspension of liquidation will be refunded or 
canceled.

ITC Notification

    In accordance with section 705(d) of the Act, Commerce will notify 
the ITC of its final affirmative determination that countervailable 
subsidies are being provided to producers and exporters of chassis from 
Mexico. As Commerce's final determination is affirmative, in accordance 
with section 705(b) of the Act, the ITC will determine, within 45 days, 
whether the domestic industry in the United States is materially 
injured, or threatened with material injury, by reason of imports of 
chassis from Mexico. In addition, we are making available to the ITC 
all non-privileged and non-proprietary information in our files, 
provided the ITC confirms that it will not disclose such information, 
either publicly or under administrative protective order (APO), without 
the written consent of the Assistant Secretary for Enforcement and 
Compliance.
    If the ITC determines that material injury or threat of material 
injury does not exist, this proceeding will be terminated and all cash 
deposits will be refunded. If the ITC determines that such injury does 
exist, Commerce will issue a CVD order directing CBP to assess, upon 
further instruction by Commerce, countervailing duties on all imports 
of the subject merchandise that are entered, or withdrawn from 
warehouse, for consumption on or after the effective date of the 
suspension of liquidation, as discussed in the ``Continuation of 
Suspension of Liquidation'' section, above.

Administrative Protective Order

    In the event that the ITC issues a final negative injury 
determination, this notice will serve as the only reminder to parties 
subject to an APO of their responsibility concerning the destruction of 
proprietary information disclosed under APO, in accordance with 19 CFR 
351.305(a)(3). Timely written notification of the return/destruction of 
APO materials or conversion to judicial protective order is hereby 
requested. Failure to comply with the regulations and terms of an APO 
is a violation which is subject to sanction.

Notification to Interested Parties

    This determination is issued and published pursuant to sections 
705(d) and 777(i) of the Act, and 19 CFR 351.210(c).

    Dated: April 20, 2026.
Christopher Abbott,
Deputy Assistant Secretary for Policy and Negotiations, performing the 
non-exclusive functions and duties of the Assistant Secretary for 
Enforcement and Compliance.

Appendix I

Scope of the Investigation

    The merchandise covered by this investigation consists of 
chassis and subassemblies thereof whether finished or unfinished, 
whether assembled or unassembled, whether coated or uncoated, 
regardless of the number of axles, for carriage of containers, or 
other payloads (including self-supporting payloads) for road, marine 
roll-on/roll-off (RORO) and/or rail transport. Chassis are 
typically, but are not limited to, rectangular framed trailers with 
a suspension and axle system, wheels and tires, brakes, a lighting 
and electrical system, a coupling for towing behind a truck tractor, 
and a locking system or systems to secure the shipping container or 
containers to the chassis using twistlocks, slide pins or similar 
attachment

[[Page 22139]]

devices to engage the corner fittings on the container or other 
payload.
    Subject merchandise includes, but is not limited to, the 
following subassemblies:
    <bullet> Chassis frames, or sections of chassis frames, 
including kingpin assemblies, bolsters consisting of transverse 
beams with locking or support mechanisms, goosenecks, drop 
assemblies, extension mechanisms and/or rear impact guards;
    <bullet> Running gear assemblies or axle assemblies for 
connection to the chassis frame, whether fixed in nature or capable 
of sliding fore and aft or lifting up and lowering down, which may 
or may not include suspension(s) (mechanical or pneumatic), wheel 
end components, slack adjusters, dressed axles, brake chambers, 
locking pins, and tires and wheels; and
    <bullet> Assemblies that connect to the chassis frame or a 
section of the chassis frame, such as but not limited to, pintle 
hooks or B-trains (which include a fifth wheel), which are capable 
of connecting a chassis to a converter dolly or another chassis.
    Importation of any of these subassemblies, whether assembled or 
unassembled, constitutes an unfinished chassis for purposes of this 
investigation.
    Subject merchandise also includes chassis, whether finished or 
unfinished, entered with components such as, but not limited to: hub 
and drum assemblies, brake assemblies (either drum or disc), bare 
axles, brake chambers, suspensions and suspension components, wheel 
end components, landing gear legs, spoke or disc wheels, tires, 
brake control systems, electrical harnesses and lighting systems.
    Processing of finished and unfinished chassis and components 
such as trimming, cutting, grinding, notching, punching, drilling, 
painting, coating, staining, finishing, assembly, or any other 
processing either in the country of manufacture of the in-scope 
product or in a third country does not remove the product from the 
scope. Inclusion of other components not identified as comprising 
the finished or unfinished chassis does not remove the product from 
the scope.
    Individual components entered and sold by themselves are not 
subject to the investigation, but components entered with a finished 
or unfinished chassis are subject merchandise. A finished chassis is 
ultimately comprised of several different types of subassemblies. 
Within each subassembly there are numerous components that comprise 
a given subassembly.
    This scope excludes dry van trailers, refrigerated van trailers 
and flatbed trailers. Dry van trailers are trailers with a wholly 
enclosed cargo space comprised of fixed sides, nose, floor and roof, 
with articulated panels (doors) across the rear and occasionally at 
selected places on the sides, with the cargo space being permanently 
incorporated in the trailer itself. Refrigerated van trailers are 
trailers with a wholly enclosed cargo space comprised of fixed 
sides, nose, floor and roof, with articulated panels (doors) across 
the rear and occasionally at selected places on the sides, with the 
cargo space being permanently incorporated in the trailer and being 
insulated, possessing specific thermal properties intended for use 
with self-contained refrigeration systems. Flatbed (or platform) 
trailers consist of load carrying main frames and a solid, flat or 
stepped loading deck or floor permanently incorporated with and 
supported by frame rails and cross members.
    The scope also excludes fully and permanently assembled trailers 
that have permanently incorporated floors welded to the frame 
without a locking mechanism, a gross axle weight ratings of 8,000 
lbs or less, and that connect to Federal Highway Administration 
Class 3 or Class 5 vehicles with a coupler rated for SAE J684 
Standard Class 4, whether entered with or without neck, ramp, dove 
tail, or dump/safety arm components. The scope also excludes fully 
dressed axle subassemblies with a gross axle weight rating of 8,000 
lbs or less, an outer diameter of the axle beam of three inches or 
less, and eight or fewer lug nuts.
    The finished and unfinished chassis subject to this 
investigation are typically classified in the Harmonized Tariff 
Schedule of the United States (HTSUS) at subheadings: 8716.39.0090 
and 8716.90.5060. Imports of finished and unfinished chassis may 
also enter under HTSUS subheading 8716.90.5010. While the HTSUS 
subheadings are provided for convenience and customs purposes, the 
written description of the merchandise under investigation is 
dispositive.

Appendix II

List of Topics Discussed in the Issues and Decision Memorandum

I. Summary
II. Background
III. Changes Since the Preliminary Determination
IV. Use Of Facts Otherwise Available and Adverse Inferences
V. Discussion of the Issues
    Comment 1: Whether Commerce Properly Rejected HYMEX's Unreported 
Toller Information
    Comment 2: Whether Commerce Should Apply Total Adverse Facts 
Available (AFA) to HYMEX
    Comment 3: Whether Commerce Should Find Certain Programs Not 
Countervailable
VI. Recommendation

[FR Doc. 2026-08040 Filed 4-23-26; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-DS-P


</pre></body>
</html>
Indexed from Federal Register on April 24, 2026.

This is legal information, not legal advice. Laws vary by jurisdiction and change frequently. Always verify current law with official sources and consult a licensed attorney in your jurisdiction for advice on your specific situation.