Notice2026-20163
Truck Bed Covers From the People's Republic of China: Preliminary Affirmative Determination of Sales at Less Than Fair Value, Postponement of Final Determination, and Extension of Provisional Measures
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Published
October 1, 2026
Issuing agencies
Commerce DepartmentInternational Trade Administration
Abstract
The U.S. Department of Commerce (Commerce) preliminarily determines that truck bed covers from the People's Republic of China (China) are being, or are likely to be, sold in the United States at less than fair value (LTFV). The period of investigation is July 1, 2025, through December 31, 2025.
Full Text
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<title>Federal Register, Volume 91 Issue 189 (Thursday, October 1, 2026)</title>
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[Federal Register Volume 91, Number 189 (Thursday, October 1, 2026)]
[Notices]
[Pages 62495-62498]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2026-20163]
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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
International Trade Administration
[A-570-223]
Truck Bed Covers From the People's Republic of China: Preliminary
Affirmative Determination of Sales at Less Than Fair Value,
Postponement of Final Determination, and Extension of Provisional
Measures
AGENCY: Enforcement and Compliance, International Trade Administration,
Department of Commerce.
SUMMARY: The U.S. Department of Commerce (Commerce) preliminarily
determines that truck bed covers from the People's Republic of China
(China) are being, or are likely to be, sold in the United States at
less than fair value (LTFV). The period of investigation is July 1,
2025, through December 31, 2025.
DATES: Applicable October 1, 2026.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Christopher Maciuba or Jerry Xiao, AD/
CVD Operations, Office II, Enforcement and Compliance, International
Trade Administration, U.S. Department of Commerce, 1401 Constitution
Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20230; telephone: (202) 482-0413 or (202)
482-2273, respectively.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Background
This preliminary determination is made in accordance with section
733(b) of the Tariff Act of 1930, as amended (the Act). Commerce
published the notice of initiation of this investigation on March 20,
2026.\1\ On July 14, 2026, Commerce postponed the preliminary
determination of this investigation, and the revised deadline is now
September 23, 2026.\2\
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\1\ See Truck Bed Covers from the People's Republic of China:
Initiation of a Less-Than-Fair-Value Investigation, 91 FR 13568
(March 20, 2026) (Initiation Notice).
\2\ See Truck Bed Covers from The People's Republic of China:
Postponement of Preliminary Determination in the Less- Than-Fair-
Value Investigation, 91 FR 43084 (July 14, 2024).
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For a complete description of the events that followed the
initiation of this investigation, see the Preliminary Decision
Memorandum.\3\ A list of topics included in the Preliminary Decision
Memorandum is included as Appendix II to this notice. The Preliminary
Decision Memorandum is a public document and is on file electronically
via Enforcement and Compliance's Antidumping and Countervailing Duty
Centralized Electronic Service System (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 Preliminary Decision Memorandum can be accessed directly
at <a href="https://access.trade.gov/frnotices">https://access.trade.gov/frnotices</a>.
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\3\ See Memorandum, ``Decision Memorandum for the Preliminary
Determination in the Less-Than-Fair-Value Investigation of Truck Bed
Covers from the People's Republic of China,'' dated concurrently
with, and hereby adopted by, this notice (Preliminary Decision
Memorandum).
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Scope of the Investigation
The products covered by this investigation are truck bed covers
from China. For a complete description of the scope of this
investigation, see Appendix I.
Scope Comments
In accordance with the Preamble to Commerce's regulations,\4\ the
Initiation Notice set aside a period of time for parties to raise
issues regarding product coverage (scope).\5\ Certain interested
parties commented on the scope of the investigation as it appeared in
the Initiation Notice. For a summary of the product coverage comments
and rebuttal responses submitted to the record for this investigation,
and accompanying discussion and analysis of all comments timely
received, see the Preliminary Scope Decision
[[Page 62496]]
Memorandum.\6\ Commerce is not preliminarily modifying the scope
language as it appeared in the Initiation Notice. Interested parties
may address our preliminary scope determination in scope case briefs;
the briefing schedule is provided in the Preliminary Scope Decision
Memorandum.
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\4\ See Antidumping Duties; Countervailing Duties, Final Rule,
62 FR 27296, 27323 (May 19, 1997).
\5\ See Initiation Notice, 91 FR at 13569.
\6\ See Memorandum, ``Less-Than-Fair-Value and Countervailing
Duty Investigations of Truck Bed Covers from the People's Republic
of China: Preliminary Scope Determination Memorandum,'' dated
concurrently with this preliminary determination (Preliminary Scope
Decision Memorandum).
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Methodology
Commerce is conducting this investigation in accordance with
section 731 of the Act. Commerce has calculated export prices in
accordance with section 772(a) of the Act. Because China is a non-
market economy, within the meaning of section 771(18) of the Act,
Commerce has calculated normal value in accordance with section 773(c)
of the Act. Furthermore, pursuant to sections 776(a) and (b) of the
Act, Commerce preliminarily has relied upon facts otherwise available,
with adverse inferences, for the China-wide entity. For a full
description of the methodology underlying Commerce's preliminary
determination, see the Preliminary Decision Memorandum.
Combination Rates
In the Initiation Notice,\7\ Commerce stated that it would
calculate producer/exporter combination rates for the respondents that
are eligible for a separate rate in this investigation. Policy Bulletin
05.1 describes this practice.\8\
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\7\ See Initiation Notice, 91 FR at 13572.
\8\ See Enforcement and Compliance's Policy Bulletin No. 05.1,
regarding, ``Separate-Rates Practice and Application of Combination
Rates in Antidumping Investigations involving Non-Market Economy
Countries,'' (April 5, 2005) (Policy Bulletin 05.1), available on
Commerce's website at <a href="https://www.trade.gov/enforcement-and-compliance-policy-bulletins-0">https://www.trade.gov/enforcement-and-compliance-policy-bulletins-0</a>.
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Separate Rates
We have preliminarily granted a separate rate to certain companies
that we did not select for individual examination.\9\ In calculating
the rate for non-individually examined separate rate respondents in an
non-market economy LTFV investigation, Commerce normally looks at
section 735(c)(5)(A) of the Act, which pertains to the calculation of
the all-others rate in a market economy LTFV investigation, for
guidance. Pursuant to section 735(c)(5)(A) of the Act, normally this
rate shall be an amount equal to the weighted-average of the estimated
weighted-average dumping margins established for those companies
individually examined, excluding any zero and de minimis dumping
margins, and any dumping margins based entirely under section 776 of
the Act.
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\9\ See Preliminary Decision Memorandum.
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Commerce calculated individual estimated weighted-average dumping
margins for Hangzhou Golden Sun Autoparts Co., Ltd. (Golden Sun) and
Wenzhou Tianmao Automobile Parts Co., LTD (Tianmao) \10\ that are not
zero, de minimis, or based entirely on facts otherwise available.
Therefore, we assigned a margin to the non-examined, separate rate
companies based on a weighted-average dumping margin based on the
publicly ranged U.S. sales values reported by Golden Sun and Tianmao.
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\10\ Commerce is preliminary treating Tianmao and Wenzhou
Chaoming Auto Parts Co., Ltd. as a single entity; see Memorandum,
``Preliminary Determination of Affiliation and Single Entity
Determination for Wenzhou Tianmao and Wenzhou Chaoming,'' dated
concurrently with this memorandum.
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Preliminary Determination
Commerce preliminarily determines that the following estimated
weighted-average dumping margins exist:
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Weighted- Cash deposit
average rate (adjusted
Producer Exporter dumping for subsidy
margin offsets)
(percent) (percent)
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Hangzhou Golden Sun Autoparts Co., Ltd...... Hangzhou Golden Sun Autoparts Co., 51.35 51.17
Ltd..
Wenzhou Tianmao Automobile Parts Co., LTD/ Wenzhou Tianmao Automobile Parts 46.95 46.77
Wenzhou Chaoming Auto Parts Co., Ltd.. Co., LTD/Wenzhou Chaoming Auto
Parts Co., Ltd..
Foshan Yudian Automotive Products Co., Ltd.. Foshan Yudian Automotive Products 49.56 49.38
Co., Ltd.
Jiaxing Kscar Auto Accessories Co., Ltd..... Jiaxing Kscar Auto Accessories Co., 49.56 49.38
Ltd..
Ningbo Kuatu Electronic Technology Co., Ltd. Ningbo Surpass Auto Parts Co., Ltd. 49.56 49.38
Hefei Bopar Auto Technology Co., Ltd........ Hefei Bopar Auto Technology Co., 49.56 49.38
Ltd..
Ningbo Diroan Auto Accessories Co., Ltd..... Ningbo Diroan Auto Accessories Co., 49.56 49.38
Ltd..
Winbo Dongjian Automotive Technology Co., Dongjian Group (Hong Kong) Co., 49.56 49.38
Ltd.. Limited.
Winbo Dongjian Automotive Technology Co., Winbo Dongjian Automotive 49.56 49.38
Ltd.. Technology Co., Ltd..
Cixi City Liyuan Auto Parts Co., Ltd........ Hongkong Lyworth Trading Limited 49.56 49.38
Co., Ltd..
Scarman International Trading Co., Ltd...... Hongkong Lyworth Trading Limited 49.56 49.38
Co., Ltd..
Kunshan Macauto Automobile Parts Industry Kunshan Macauto Automobile Parts 49.56 49.38
Co., Ltd.. Industry Co., Ltd..
Wenzhou L-Ray Auto Parts Co., Ltd........... Wenzhou L-Ray Auto Parts Co., Ltd.. 49.56 49.38
Ningbo Scarman International Trading Co., Ningbo Scarman International 49.56 49.38
Ltd.. Trading Co., Ltd..
Cixi City Liyuan Auto Parts Co., Ltd........ Ningbo Scarman International 49.56 49.38
Trading Co., Ltd..
Wenzhou Tianmao Automobile Parts Co., Ltd... Ruian Lingsheng Auto Parts Co., 49.56 49.38
Ltd..
Changzhou Sunwood International Trading Co., Changzhou Sunwood International 49.56 49.38
Ltd.. Trading Co., Ltd..
China-Wide Entity *......................... ................................... * 107.58 107.41
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* This rate is based on facts available with adverse inferences.
Suspension of Liquidation
In accordance with section 733(d)(2) of the Act, Commerce will
direct U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) to suspend liquidation
of subject merchandise as described in the scope of the investigation
section entered, or withdrawn from warehouse, for consumption on or
after the date of publication of this notice in the Federal Register,
as discussed below. Further, pursuant to section 733(d)(1)(B) of the
Act and 19 CFR 351.205(d), Commerce will instruct CBP to require a cash
deposit equal to the weighted average amount by which normal value
exceeds U.S. price, as indicated in the chart above as follows: (1) for
the producer/exporter combinations listed in the table above, the cash
deposit rate is equal to the estimated weighted-average dumping margin
listed for that combination in the table; (2) for all combinations of
Chinese producers/
[[Page 62497]]
exporters of merchandise under consideration that have not established
eligibility for their own separate rates, the cash deposit rate will be
equal to the estimated weighted-average dumping margin established for
the China-wide entity; and (3) for all third-county exporters of
merchandise under consideration not listed in the table above, the cash
deposit rate is the cash deposit rate applicable to the Chinese
producer/exporter combination (or the China-wide entity) that supplied
that third-country exporter.
To determine the cash deposit rate, Commerce normally adjusts the
estimated weighted-average dumping margin by the amount of domestic
subsidy pass-through and export subsidies determined in a companion
countervailing duty (CVD) proceeding when CVD provisional measures are
in effect. Accordingly, where Commerce has made a preliminary
affirmative determination for domestic subsidy pass-through or export
subsidies, Commerce has offset the calculated estimated weighted-
average dumping margin by the appropriate rate(s).\11\ Any such
adjusted rates may be found in the ``Preliminary Determination''
section's chart of estimated weighted-average dumping margins above.
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\11\ See Truck Bed Covers from China: Preliminary Affirmative
Countervailing Duty Determination, 91 FR 48367 (July 31, 2026), and
accompanying Preliminary Decision Memorandum.
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Should provisional measures in the companion CVD investigation
expire prior to the expiration of provisional measures in this LTFV
investigation, Commerce will direct CBP to begin collecting cash
deposits at a rate equal to the estimated weighted-average dumping
margins calculated in this preliminary determination unadjusted for the
passed-through domestic subsidies or for export subsidies at the time
the CVD provisional measures expire.
These suspension of liquidation instructions will remain in effect
until further notice.
Disclosure
Commerce intends to disclose to interested parties the calculations
performed in connection with this preliminary 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
accordance with 19 CFR 351.224(b).
Consistent with 19 CFR 351.224(e), Commerce will analyze and, if
appropriate, correct any timely allegations of significant ministerial
errors by amending the preliminary determination. However, consistent
with 19 CFR 351.224(d), Commerce will not consider incomplete
allegations that do not address the significance standard under 19 CFR
351.224(g) following the preliminary determination. Instead, Commerce
will address such allegations in the final determination together with
issues raised in the case briefs or other written comments.
Verification
As provided in section 782(i)(1) of the Act, Commerce intends to
verify information relied upon in making its final determination.
Public Comment
Non-scope case briefs or other written comments may be submitted to
the Assistant Secretary for Enforcement and Compliance no later than
seven days after the date on which the final verification report is
issued in this investigation.\12\ Rebuttal briefs, limited to issues
raised in the case briefs, may be filed not later than five days after
the date for filing case briefs.\13\ Interested parties who submit case
briefs or rebuttal briefs in this proceeding must submit: (1) a table
of contents listing each issue; and (2) a table of authorities.\14\
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\12\ See 19 CFR 351.309(c)(1)(i).
\13\ See 19 CFR 351.309(d); see also Administrative Protective
Order, Service, and Other Procedures in Antidumping and
Countervailing Duty Proceedings, 88 FR 67069, 67077 (September 29,
2023) (APO and Service Final Rule).
\14\ See 19 351.309(c)(2) and (d)(2).
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As provided under 19 CFR 351.309(c)(2)(iii) and (d)(2)(iii), we
request that interested parties provide at the beginning of their
briefs a public, executive summary for each issue raised in their
briefs.\15\ Further, we request that interested parties limit their
executive summary of each issue to no more than 450 words, not
including citations. We intend to use the executive summaries as the
basis of the comment summaries included in the issues and decision
memorandum that will accompany the final determination in this
investigation. We request that interested parties include footnotes for
relevant citations in the executive summary of each issue. Note that
Commerce has amended certain of its requirements pertaining to the
service of documents in 19 CFR 351.303(f).\16\
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\15\ We use the term ``issue'' here to describe an argument that
Commerce would normally address in a comment of the Issues and
Decision Memorandum.
\16\ See APO and Service Final Rule.
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Pursuant to 19 CFR 351.310(c), interested parties who wish to
request a hearing, limited to issues raised in the case and rebuttal
briefs, must submit a written request to the Assistant Secretary for
Enforcement and Compliance, U.S. Department of Commerce, within 30 days
after the date of publication of this notice. Requests should contain:
(1) the party's name, address, and telephone number; (2) the number of
participants and whether any participant is a foreign national; and (3)
a list of the issues to be discussed. If a request for a hearing is
made, Commerce intends to hold the hearing at a time and date to be
determined. Oral presentations at the hearing will be limited to issues
raised in the briefs.
Postponement of Final Determination and Extension of Provisional
Measures
Section 735(a)(2) of the Act provides that a final determination
may be postponed until not later than 135 days after the date of the
publication of the preliminary determination if, in the event of an
affirmative preliminary determination, a request for such postponement
is made by exporters who account for a significant proportion of
exports of the subject merchandise, or in the event of a negative
preliminary determination, a request for such postponement is made by
the petitioners. Pursuant to 19 CFR 351.210(e)(2), Commerce requires
that requests by respondents for postponement of a final antidumping
determination be accompanied by a request for extension of provisional
measures from a four-month period to a period not more than six months
in duration.
On September 14, 2026, pursuant to 19 CFR 351.210(e), Golden Sun
requested that Commerce postpone the final determination and that
provisional measures be extended to a period not to exceed six
months.\17\ In accordance with section 735(a)(2)(A) of the Act and 19
CFR 351.210(b)(2)(ii), because: (1) the preliminary determination is
affirmative; (2) the requesting exporter accounts for a significant
proportion of exports of the subject merchandise; and (3) no compelling
reasons for denial exist, Commerce is postponing the final
determination and extending the provisional measures from a four-month
period to a period not greater than six months. Accordingly, Commerce
will make its final determination no later than 135 days after the date
of publication of this preliminary determination.
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\17\ See Golden Sun's Letter, ``Golden Sun's Request to Postpone
Final Determination,'' dated September 14, 2026.
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[[Page 62498]]
U.S. International Trade Commission Notification
In accordance with section 733(f) of the Act, Commerce will notify
the U.S. International Trade Commission (ITC) of its preliminary
determination of sales at LTFV. If the final determination is
affirmative, the ITC will determine before the later of 120 days after
the date of this preliminary determination or 45 days after the final
determination whether imports of the subject merchandise are materially
injuring, or threaten material injury to, the U.S. industry.
Notification to Interested Parties
This determination is issued and published in accordance with
sections 733(f) and 777(i)(1) of the Act and 19 CFR 351.205(c).
Dated: September 23, 2026.
Scot Fullerton,
Acting Deputy Assistant Secretary for Antidumping and Countervailing
Duty Operations.
Appendix I
Scope of the Investigation
The scope of the investigation covers 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).
The products subject to the investigation are currently
classifiable under subheading 8708.29.5160 of the Harmonized Tariff
Schedule of the United States (HTSUS). Although the HTSUS subheading
is provided for convenience and customs purposes, the written
description of the scope of the investigation is dispositive.
Appendix II
List of Topics Discussed in the Preliminary Decision Memorandum
I. Summary
II. Background
III. Period of Investigation
IV. Affiliation and Single Entity Treatment
V. Discussion of the Methodology
VI. Adjustment Under Section 777(A)(f) of the Act
VII. Adjustment to Cash Deposit Rates for Export Subsidies in the
Companion Countervailing Duty Investigation
VIII. Currency Conversion
IX. Recommendation
[FR Doc. 2026-20163 Filed 9-30-26; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-DS-P
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