On July 23, 2025, the Coalition of Freight Coupler Producers (“Petitioners”), filed a petition for the imposition of antidumping duties on U.S. imports of Certain Freight Rail Couplers and Parts Thereof from the Czech Republic and the Republic of India and countervailing duties on the Republic of India.
SCOPE OF THE INVESTIGATION
The following language describes the imported merchandise from the Czech Republic and the Republic of India that is within the scope of this Petition: The scope of this investigation covers certain freight railcar couplers (also known as “fits” or “assemblies”) and parts thereof. Freight railcar couplers are composed of two main parts, namely knuckles and coupler bodies but may also include other items (e.g., coupler locks, lock lift assemblies, knuckle pins, knuckle throwers, and rotors).
The parts covered by the investigation include: (1) E coupler bodies; (2) E/F coupler bodies; (3) F coupler bodies; (4) E knuckles; (5) F knuckles; as set forth by the Association of American Railroads (AAR). The freight rail coupler parts are included within the scope of the investigation when imported individually. Subject freight railcar couplers and parts are included within the scope whether finished or unfinished, whether imported individually or with other subject or nonsubject parts, whether assembled or unassembled, whether mounted or unmounted, or if joined with nonsubject merchandise, such as other nonsubject parts or a completed railcar. Finishing includes, but is not limited to, arc washing, welding, grinding, shot blasting, heat treatment, machining, and assembly of various parts. When a subject coupler or subject parts are mounted on or to other nonsubject merchandise, such as a railcar, only the coupler or subject parts are covered by the scope.
The finished products covered by the scope of this order meet or exceed the AAR specifications of M-211, “Foundry and Product Approval Requirements for the Manufacture of Couplers, Coupler Yokes, Knuckles, Follower Blocks, and Coupler Parts,” and/or AAR M-215 “Coupling Systems,” or other equivalent domestic or international standards (including any revisions to the standard(s)).
The country of origin for subject couplers and parts thereof, whether fully assembled, unfinished or finished, or attached to a railcar, is the country where the subject coupler parts were cast or forged. Subject merchandise includes coupler parts as defined above that have been further processed or further assembled, including those coupler parts attached to a railcar in third countries.
Further processing includes, but is not limited to, arc washing, welding, grinding, shot blasting, heat treatment, painting, coating, priming, machining, and assembly of various parts. The inclusion, attachment, joining, or assembly of nonsubject parts with subject parts or couplers either in the country of manufacture of the in-scope product or in a third country does not remove the subject parts or couplers from the scope. The couplers that are the subject of this investigation are classifiable in the Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States (HTSUS) statistical reporting numbers 8607.30.1000, 8607.30.1010, 8607.30.1050, and 8607.30.1090. Unfinished subject merchandise may also enter under HTSUS statistical reporting number 7326.90.8688. Subject merchandise attached to finished railcars may also enter under HTSUS statistical reporting numbers 8606.10.0000, 8606.30.1000, 8606.91.0000, 8606.92.0000, 8606.99.0130, 8606.99.0160, or under subheading 9803.00.50. Subject merchandise may also be imported under HTSUS statistical reporting number 7325.99.5000. These HTSUS subheadings are provided for convenience and customs purposes only; the written description of the scope of this investigation is dispositive.
PETITIONERS
| Coalition of Freight Coupler Producers 1275 Airline Highway Baton Rouge, LA 70805-1002 | |
| McConway and Torley, LLC 109 48th Street Pittsburgh, PA 15201 Phone: (412) 682-4700 Fax: (412) 682-4725 Contact: Scott Mautino Email: Scott.mautino@ferroworks.com | United Steel, Paper and Forestry, Rubber, Manufacturing, Energy, Allied Industrial and Service Workers International Union (USW) 60 Boulevard of the Allies Pittsburgh, PA 15222 Phone: (413) 562-2400 Contact: Roy Houseman Email: rhouseman@usw.org |
COUNSEL FOR PETITIONERS
Buchanan Ingersoll & Rooney PC
1700 K Street, NW
Washington, D.C. 20006
NAMED PRODUCERS/EXPORTERS
For a list of foreign producers/exporters alleged by Petitioners, please see Attachment I.
NAMED IMPORTERS
For a list of importers alleged by the Petitioner, please see Attachment II.
ESTIMATED SCHEDULE
| Event | Earliest Date |
| Petition Filed | July 22, 2025 |
| DOC Initiation | August 11, 2025 |
| ITC Preliminary Investigation: | |
| Questionnaires Due | August 5, 2025 |
| Request to appear at hearing | August 10, 2025 |
| Hearing | August 12, 2025 |
| Briefs | August 17, 2025 |
| ITC Vote | September 5, 2025 |
| DOC Investigation Schedule: | |
| DOC Preliminary Antidumping Determination | December 29, 2025 |
| DOC Final Antidumping Determination | March 14, 2026 |
| DOC Preliminary Countervailing Determination | October 15, 2025 |
| DOC Final Countervailing Determination | December 29, 2025 |
| ITC Final Investigation: | |
| ITC Final AD Determination | April 28, 2026 |
| ITC Final CVD Determination | February 12, 2026 |
ALLEGED DUMPING MARGINS
Czech Republic:
201 – 52.69%
202 – 166.67%
India:
201 – 23.07%
202 – 419.55%
ALLEGED COUNTERVAILING DUTY MARGINS
Above de minimis
ALLEGED SUBSIDIES
For a list of alleged subsidies by the Petitioner, please see Attachment III.
IMPORTS OF SUBJECT MERCHANDISE
| 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | 2025 YTD (Jan.-Mar.) | |
| Quantity (kg) | 1,096,231 | 1,197,521 | 2,629,261 | 1,312,982 |
| Landed Duty-Paid Value ($) | 3,435,657 | 3,990,750 | 8,102,003 | 3,703,248 |
| AUV ($/kg) | 3.13 | 3.31 | 3.08 | 2.82 |
CONTACT US For more information concerning this petition and how it may affect your business, please contact Nithya Nagarajan or Stephen Brophy.