Press Releases

Last week, the U.S. Department of Commerce (Commerce) announced its preliminary finding that Chinese producers have sold low-speed personal transportation vehicles (LSPTVs) into the United States at less than fair value, violating U.S. international trade laws. In response, Commerce calculated affirmative antidumping duties ranging from 127.35% to 478.09%. This announcement comes after Congressman Rick W. Allen (GA-12) led a bipartisan, bicameral letter to former Secretary of Commerce, Gina M. Raimondo, urging the Commerce Department to stand by U.S. manufacturers and workers in the LSPTV industry. Following the announcement, Congressman Allen issued the statement below:

"We have been sounding the alarm on China's unfair trade practices in the LSPTV industry for months. Last week's announcement from the Commerce Department delivers accountability, and more importantly, levels the playing field for U.S. producers. With the establishment of these antidumping duties, we are one step closer to resolving this harmful Chinese trade tactic for LSPTV manufacturers in the CSRA and nationwide, said Congressman Allen.

"We appreciate the findings of the U.S. Department of Commerce and its actions to help protect our U.S. manufacturers," said Rob Scholl, President and CEO of Textron Specialized Vehicles Inc. "We are committed to investing in American manufacturing and to our workforce of dedicated employees at our facilities in Augusta, Ga. and across the country. The actions announced last week will help safeguard those workers from the impacts of the unfair trade practices of state-subsidized Chinese producers."

"The Department of Commerce decision further levels the playing field for American manufacturers and ultimately our customers. This action is a win for our hardworking employees and helps to return fairness in our industry," saidMark Wagner, Club Car President & CEO.

BACKGROUND: The Central Savannah River Area (CSRA), encompassing Georgia and South Carolina, has long been the epicenter of U.S. golf cart manufacturing. It is home to two large producers that deliver electric vehicle models for personal and recreational transportation – Personal Transportation Vehicles (PTVs), Low-Speed Vehicles (LSVs), and golf carts.

Last week's determination establishes the preliminary duty margins in the dumping portion of this investigation. Following the publication of Commerce’s preliminary determination in the Federal Register in approximately one week, Commerce will instruct U.S. Customs and Border Protection (Customs) to begin suspending liquidation and collecting preliminary antidumping duties (in the form of cash deposits) on entries of LSPTVs from China. These duties will be added to the preliminary subsidy duties already in place on Chinese imports, which range from 22% to 515%.