FACT SHEET

Preliminary Determination in the Antidumping Duty Investigation on

Outboard Engines from Japan

On August 6, the Department of Commerce (Department) announced its preliminary affirmative determination in the antidumping duty investigation on imports of outboard engines from Japan.   The Department has preliminarily found that Japanese producers/exporters have sold outboard engines in the U.S. market at less than fair value, with a margin of 22.52 percent.

Next Steps:   The Department will consider comments from interested parties on its preliminary determination, as well as other record evidence, in making its final determination.   The Department's final determination is currently due to be issued on or about December 24, 2004.   If the Department makes a final determination that imports were sold below fair value, and the U.S. International Trade Commission makes a final affirmative determination that such imports were materially injuring, or threaten to materially injure, the domestic industry, the Department will issue an antidumping order and instruct U.S. Customs and Border Protection to collect cash deposits for antidumping duties at the specified rate.

Petitioner:   The petition requesting this investigation was filed by Mercury Marine (Fond du Lac, WI), a division of Brunswick Corporation .

Product Description:   For the purpose of this investigation, the products covered are outboard engines (also referred to as outboard motors), whether assembled or unassembled; and powerheads, whether assembled or unassembled.   The subject engines are gasoline-powered spark-ignition, internal combustion engines designed and used principally for marine propulsion for all types of light recreational and commercial boats, including, but not limited to canoes, rafts, and inflatable, sail and pontoon boats.   The scope does not include parts or components (other than powerheads) imported separately.

The outboard engines and powerheads subject to this investigation are typically classified under subheadings 8407.21.0040 and 8407.21.0080 of the Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States (HTSUS).   Although the HTSUS subheadings are provided for convenience and customs purposes, the written description of the scope of this investigation is dispositive.

Preliminary Dumping Margins :

Case Calendar:

* This will take place only in the event of a final affirmative determination by the Department.

** This will take place only in the event of final affirmative determinations by both the Department and the ITC.

Import Statistics:

Source: U.S. ITC Trade DataWeb