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###### International Trade Commission

          - [Investigation Nos. 701-TA-731 and 731-TA-1700 (Final)]

# 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-731 and 731-TA-1700 (Final) pursuant to the Tariff Act of 1930 (“the Act”) 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 low speed personal transportation vehicles (LSPTVs) from China, provided for in subheadings 8703.10.50, 8703.90.01, 8706.00.15, and 8707.10.00 of the Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States, preliminarily determined by the Department of Commerce (“Commerce”) to be subsidized and sold at less-than-fair-value.

# DATES:

January 30, 2025.

# FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

                        Nitin Joshi ((202) 708-1669), 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:

      ( print page 9346)    

*Scope.*                    —For purposes of these investigations, Commerce has defined the subject merchandise as “certain low speed personal transportation vehicles (LSPTVs) and subassemblies thereof, whether finished or unfinished and whether assembled or unassembled, with or without tires, wheels, seats, steering columns and steering wheels, canopies, roofs, or batteries. LSPTVs meeting this description are open-air vehicles,                     *i.e.,*                     may have a permanent roof, may have a permanent windshield, and may be covered with temporary sides, with a minimum of four wheels, a steering wheel, a traditional side-by-side or in-line row seating arrangement (                    *i.e.,*                     non-straddle), foot operated accelerator and brake pedals, and a gross vehicle weight of no greater than 5,500 pounds.                

The main power source for subject LSPTVs is either an electric motor and battery (including but not limited to lithium-ion batteries, lithium phosphate batteries, lead acid batteries, and absorbed glass mat batteries) or a gas-powered internal combustion engine. Subject LSPTVs may be described as golf carts, golf cars, low speed vehicles, personal transportation vehicles, or light utility vehicles.

LSPTVs subject to these investigations should have a maximum top nameplate speed of no greater than 25 miles per hour as required by federal, state, and local laws and regulations. Subject LSPTVs with a maximum top nameplate speed greater than 20 miles per hour normally must comply with the U.S. Department of Transportation's Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards for Low-Speed Vehicles set forth in 49 CFR 571.500. LSPTVs that otherwise meet the physical description of this scope but are not certified under 49 CFR 571.500 and are not certified under other sections of subpart B of the Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards (49 CFR part 571), are not excluded from these investigations. LSPTVs that are certified under both 49 CFR 571.500 and other sections of subpart B of the Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards remain subject to the scope of these investigations. Subject LSPTVs that have a maximum top nameplate speed of less than 25 miles per hour may be certified to the SAE International (SAE) standards SAE J2258 and SAE J2358. LSPTVs that have a maximum top nameplate speed of less than 20 miles per hour may also be certified to the Outdoor Power Equipment Institute (OPEI) standards OPEI Z130.1 and OPEI Z135.

An unfinished and/or unassembled LSPTV subject to these investigations covers at a minimum a subassembly, also known as a “rolling chassis,” which is typically comprised of, but not limited to, a frame or body with front and/or rear suspension components (such as arms, springs, axles, spindles, and shafts) installed and powertrain components (including either an electric motor or a gas-powered internal combustion engine) installed or ready for installation.

When imported together with a rolling chassis subject to these investigations, other LSPTV components, such as batteries, bumpers, wheel and tire assemblies, cowlings, fenders, grills, kick plates, steering column and steering wheel assemblies, dash assembly, seat assemblies, pedal assemblies, brake assemblies, canopy or roof assemblies, temporary rain enclosures, windshields, mirrors, headlights, taillights, lighting systems, or storage—whether assembled or unassembled, whether as part of a kit or not, and whether or not accompanied by additional components—constitute part of an unfinished and/or unassembled LSPTV that is subject to these investigations. The inclusion of other products, components, or assemblies not described here does not remove the product from the scope.

Subject LSPTVs and subassemblies are covered by the scope of these investigations whether or not they are accompanied by other parts. These investigations cover all LSPTVs and subassemblies meeting the physical description of the scope, regardless of overall length, width, or height. Individual components that do not comprise a subject LSPTV or subassembly that are entered by themselves are not subject to the investigations, but components entered with a LSPTV or subassembly, whether finished or unfinished and whether assembled or unassembled, are subject merchandise.

LSPTVs and subassemblies subject to these investigations include those that are produced in the subject country whether assembled with other components in the subject country or in a third country. Processing or completion of finished and unfinished LSPTVs and subassemblies either in the subject country or in a third country does not remove the product from the scope.

Specifically excluded from the scope of these investigations are all-terrain vehicles (which typically have straddle seating and are steered by handlebars), multipurpose off-highway utility vehicles (which have a maximum top nameplate speed of greater than 25 miles per hour), and recreational off-highway vehicles (which have a maximum top nameplate speed of greater than 30 miles per hour). Also excluded from the scope are go-karts, electric scooters, golf trolleys, and mobility aids (which include power wheelchairs and scooters which are used for the express purpose of enabling mobility for a person).”  

*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 § 703 of the Act (19 U.S.C. 1671b) are being provided to manufacturers, producers, or exporters in China of low speed personal transportation vehicles (LSPTVs), and that such products are being sold in the United States at less than fair value within the meaning of § 733 of the Act (19 U.S.C. 1673b). The investigations were requested in petitions filed on June 20, 2024, by the American Personal Transportation Vehicle Manufacturers Coalition.[1] 

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 § 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.                
      ( print page 9347)    
                    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 § 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 May 29, 2025, and a public version will be issued thereafter, pursuant to § 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 June 12, 2025. Requests to appear at the hearing should be filed in writing with the Secretary to the Commission on or before June 9, 2025. 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 remote witness due to illness or a positive COVID-19 test result may be submitted by 3 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 June 10, 2025. Parties shall file and serve written testimony and presentation slides in connection with their presentation at the hearing by no later than noon on June 11, 2025. 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 § 207.23 of the Commission's rules; the deadline for filing is June 5, 2025. Parties shall also file written testimony in connection with their presentation at the hearing, and posthearing briefs, which must conform with the provisions of § 207.25 of the Commission's rules. The deadline for filing posthearing briefs is June 20, 2025. 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 June 20, 2025. On July 11, 2025, 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 July 15, 2025, but such final comments must not contain new factual information and must otherwise comply with § 207.30 of the Commission's rules. All written submissions must conform with the provisions of § 201.8 of the Commission's rules; any submissions that contain BPI must also conform with the requirements of §§ 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 § 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 §§ 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 § 207.21 of the Commission's rules.                

By order of the Commission.

Issued: February 6, 2025.

Lisa Barton,

Secretary to the Commission.

# Footnotes

1.                             The American Personal Transportation Vehicle Manufacturers Coalition is comprised of Club Car, LLC, Evans, Georgia, and Textron Specialized Vehicles, Inc., Augusta, Georgia.                    
        Back to Citation      

[FR Doc. 2025-02467 Filed 2-10-25; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 7020-02-P