U.S. Manufacturers Petition for Tariffs on Chinese-Made Personal Transportation Vehicles

WASHINGTON—Law firm Wiley Rein LLP has filed trade petitions against Chinese manufacturers of golf carts and other vehicles on behalf of the American Personal Transportation Vehicle Manufacturers Coalition. 

The petitions specifically target the import of low-speed personal transportation vehicles (PTVs) and the alleged illegal and unfair dumping and subsidies provided by China. The coalition is made up of several U.S.-based manufacturers, including Club Car and Textron Specialized Vehicles Inc. PTVs include golf carts and light utility vehicles with a top speed of 25 mph.

According to the petitions, the coalition is claiming that the import of Chinese PTVs is causing harm to American manufacturers. The petitions assert that Chinese companies are selling these vehicles in the U.S. at prices below fair market value, a practice known as dumping. The coalition also claims that Chinese PTV manufacturers are receiving various subsidies from the Chinese government, giving them an unfair advantage over American companies.

To support these claims, the petitions point to the significant increase in Chinese imports of PTVs in recent years. The coalition notes that Chinese imports of such vehicles more than doubled from 2021 to 2023. The petitions also highlight the fact that Chinese PTVs now account for a significant portion of the U.S. market, due in part to the use of dumping and subsidies.

In response to the surge in Chinese imports, the coalition is now seeking the imposition of antidumping and countervailing duties on these products. The petitions were filed with the U.S. Department of Commerce and the U.S. International Trade Commission.

Wiley is now calling for the imposition of antidumping and countervailing duties on imported Chinese vehicles. The law firm argues that these duties are necessary to protect the American PTV market and the manufacturers and workers in the industry.