Import Administration
Antifriction Bearings, Ball from Japan (A-588-804)

Scope Description:

A. Description of the Merchandise

The products covered by these orders, antifriction bearings (other than tapered roller bearings), mounted or unmounted, and parts thereof (AFBs), constitute the following classes or kinds of merchandise:

Ball Bearings and Parts Thereof:

These products include all AFBs that employ balls as the roller element. Imports of these products are classified under the following categories: antifriction balls, ball bearings with integral shafts, ball bearings (including radial ball bearings) and parts thereof, and housed or mounted ball bearing units and parts thereof.

Imports of these products are classified under the following Harmonized Tariff Schedule (HTS) subheadings: 3926.90.45, 4016.93.10, 4016.93.50, 6909.19.5010, 8431.20.00, 8431.39.0010, 8482.10.10, 8482.10.50, 8482.80.00, 8482.91.00, 8482.99.05, 8482.99.35, 8482.99.2580, 8482.99.6595, 8483.20.40, 8483.20.80, 8483.30.40, 8483.30.80, 8483.50.90, 8483.90.20, 8483.90.30, 8483.90.70, 8708.30.50.90, 8708.40.75.00, 8708.50.50, 8708.50.79.00, 8708.50.8900, 8708.50.91.50, 8708.50.99.00, 8708.60.50, 8708.60.80, 8708.70.6060, 8708.80.65.90, 8708.93.30, 8708.93.6000, 8708.93.75, 8708.50.50, 8708.94.75, 8708.95.20.00, 8708.99.06, 8708.99.3100, 8708.99.4000, 8708.99.4960, 8708.99.55.00, 8708.99.58, 8708.99.68, 8708.99.8015, 8708.99.8080, 8708.99.81.80, 8803.10.00, 8803.20.00, 8803.30.00, 8803.90.30, and 8803.90.90.

The HTS item numbers are provided for convenience and Customs purposes. They are not determinative of the products subject to the orders. The written description remains dispositive.

Size or precision grade of a bearing does not influence whether the bearing is covered by the orders. These orders cover all the subject bearings and parts thereof (inner race, outer race, cage, rollers, balls, seals, shields, etc.) outlined above with certain limitations. With regard to finished parts, all such parts are included in the scope of these orders. For unfinished parts, such parts are included if (1) they have been heat treated, or (2) heat treatment is not required to be performed on the part. Thus, the only unfinished parts that are not covered by these orders are those that will be subject to heat treatment after importation.

The ultimate application of a bearing also does not influence whether the bearing is covered by the orders. Bearings designed for highly specialized applications are not excluded. Any of the subject bearings, regardless of whether they may ultimately be utilized in aircraft, automobiles, or other equipment, are within the scope of these orders.



B. Scope Determinations

Since the antidumping duty orders on AFBs went into effect, the Department has issued numerous clarifications of the scope of the orders. The following is a compilation of the scope rulings the Department has made.

Scope rulings made in the Final Determinations of Sales at Less than Fair Value; Antifriction Bearings (Other Than Tapered Roller Bearings) and Parts Thereof from the Federal Republic of Germany (AFBs Investigation of SLTFV), 54 FR 19006, 19019 (May 3, 1989):

Products covered:
• Rod end bearings and parts thereof
• AFBs used in aviation applications
• Aerospace engine bearings
• Wheel hub units
• Wave generator bearings
• Bearings (including mounted or housed units and flanged or enhanced bearings) ultimately utilized in textile machinery

Products excluded:
• Plain bearings other than spherical plain bearings
• Airframe components unrelated to the reduction of friction
• Linear motion devices
• Split pillow block housings
• Nuts, bolts, and sleeves that are not integral parts of a bearing or attached to a bearing under review
• Thermoplastic bearings
• Stainless steel hollow balls
• Textile machinery components that are substantially advanced in function(s) or value
• Wheel hub units imported as part of front and rear axle assemblies; wheel hub units that include tapered roller bearings; and clutch release bearings that are already assembled as parts of transmissions
• Slewing rings and slewing bearings


Scope rulings completed between April 1, 1990, and June 30, 1990 (see Scope Rulings, 55 FR 42750 (October 23, 1990)):
Products excluded:
• Antifriction bearings, including integral shaft ball bearings, used in textile machinery and imported with attachments and augmentations sufficient to advance their function beyond load-bearing/friction-reducing capability


Scope rulings completed between July 1, 1990, and September 30, 1990 (see Scope Rulings, 55 FR 43020 (October 25, 1990)):
Products covered:
• Rod ends
• Clutch release bearings
• Ball bearings used in the manufacture of helicopters
• Ball bearings used in the manufacture of disk drives


Scope rulings published in Antifriction Bearings (Other Than Tapered Roller Bearings) and Parts Thereof; Final Results of Antidumping Administrative Review, 56 FR 31692, 31696 (July 11, 1991):
Products covered:
• Load rollers and thrust rollers, also called mast guide bearings
• Conveyor system trolley wheels and chain wheels


Scope rulings completed between April 1, 1991, and June 30, 1991 (see Notice of Scope Rulings, 56 FR 36774 (August 1, 1991)):
Products excluded:
• Textile machinery components including false twist spindles, belt guide rollers, separator rollers, damping units, rotor units, and tension pulleys


Scope rulings completed between July 1, 1991, and September 30, 1991 (see Scope Rulings, 56 FR 57320 (November 8, 1991)):
Products covered:
• Snap rings and wire races
• Bearings imported as spare parts
• Custom-made specialty bearings
Products excluded:
• Certain rotor assembly textile machinery components
• Linear motion bearings


Scope rulings completed between October 1, 1991, and December 31, 1991 (see Notice of Scope Rulings, 57 FR 4597 (February 6, 1992)):
Products covered:
• Chain sheaves (forklift truck mast components)
• Loose boss rollers used in textile drafting machinery, also called top rollers
• Certain engine main shaft pilot bearings and engine crank shaft bearings


Scope rulings completed between January 1, 1992, and March 31, 1992 (see Scope Rulings, 57 FR 19602 (May 7, 1992)):
Products covered:
• Ceramic bearings
• Roller turn rollers
• Clutch release systems that contain rolling elements
Products excluded:
• Clutch release systems that do not contain rolling elements
• Chrome steel balls for use as check valves in hydraulic valve systems


Scope rulings completed between April 1, 1992, and June 30, 1992 (see Scope Rulings, 57 FR 32973 (July 24, 1992)):
Products excluded:
• Finished, semiground stainless steel balls
• Stainless steel balls for non-bearing use (in an optical polishing process)


Scope rulings completed between July 1, 1992, and September 30, 1992 (see Scope Rulings, 57 FR 57420 (December 4, 1992)):
Products covered:
• Certain flexible roller bearings whose component rollers have a length-to-diameter ratio of less than 4:1
• Model 15BM2110 bearings
Products excluded:
• Certain textile machinery components


Scope rulings completed between October 1, 1992, and December 31, 1992 (see Scope Rulings, 58 FR 11209 (February 24, 1993)):
• Certain cartridge assemblies comprised of a machine shaft, a machined housing and two standard bearings


Scope rulings completed between January 1, 1993, and March 31, 1993 (see Scope Rulings, 58 FR 27542 (May 10, 1993)):
Products covered:


Scope rulings completed between April 1, 1993, and June 30, 1993 (see Scope Rulings, 58 FR 47124 (September 7, 1993)):
Products excluded:
• SAR series of ball bearings
• Certain eccentric locking collars that are part of housed bearing units


Scope rulings completed between October 1, 1993, and December 31, 1993 (see Scope Rulings, 59 FR 8910 (February 24, 1994)):
Products excluded:
• Certain textile machinery components


Scope rulings completed between January 1, 1994, and March 31, 1994:
Products excluded:
• Certain textile machinery components


Scope rulings completed between October 1, 1994 and December 31, 1994 (see Scope Rulings, 60 FR 12196 (March 6, 1995)):
Products excluded:
• Rotek and Kaydon - Rotek bearings, models M4 and L6, are slewing rings outside the scope of the order.


Scope rulings completed between April 1, 1995 and June 30, 1995 (see Scope Rulings, 60 FR 36782 (July 18, 1995)):
Products covered:
• Consolidated Saw Mill International (CSMI) Inc. - Cambio bearings contained in CSMI’s sawmill debarker are within the scope of the order.
• Nakanishi Manufacturing Corp. - Nakanishi’s stamped steel washer with a zinc phosphate and adhesive coating used in the manufacture of a ball bearing is within the scope of the order.


Scope rulings completed between January 1, 1996 and March 31, 1996 (see Scope Rulings, 61 FR 18381 (April 25, 1996)):
Products excluded:
• Marquardt Switches - Medium carbon steel balls imported by Marquardt are outside the scope of the order.


Scope rulings completed between April 1, 1996 and June 30, 1996 (see Scope Rulings, 61 FR 40194 (August 1, 1996))
Products excluded:
• Dana Corporation - Automotive component, known variously as a center bracket assembly, center bearings assembly, support bracket, or shaft support bearing, is outside the scope of the order.
• Rockwell International Corporation - Automotive component, known variously as a cushion suspension unit, cushion assembly unit, or center bearing assembly, is outside the scope of the order.
• Enkotec Company, Inc. - “Main bearings” imported for incorporation into Enkotec Rotary Nail Machines are slewing rings and, therefore, are outside the scope of the order.


Scope rulings completed between October 1, 1998 and March 31, 2000 (see Scope Rulings, 65 FR 41957 (July 7, 2000)):
Products excluded:
• Holland Hitch - “Turntable bearing” (slewing rings, gearless slewing rings, or slewing bearings) is outside the scope of the order.
• Nissei Sangyo America, Ltd. - Certain vacuum nozzle assembly, designated as part 630-063-2316, is outside the scope of the order.
• Sanden International (USA) - Certain orbiting and fixed races, and orbiting and fixed rings, used in a “rotation prevention device”, are outside the scope of the order.
• Isuzu Motors America, Inc. - fan center assembly, designated as part 8-97226-2892 and imported primarily for use in a V-8 diesel engine, is outside the scope of the order.


Scope rulings completed between April 1, 2000 and June 30, 2000 (see Scope Rulings, 65 FR 52409 (August 29, 2000)):
Products excluded:
• NTN Bearing Corporation of America - EM Coupling, a “rotation prevention device” and ring plates used in the EM Coupling, are outside the scope of the order.
• Subaru-Isuzu Automotive, Inc. - fan bracket assembly, designated as part 8971486750 (prior to October 1, 1999) and as part 8972317180 (from October 1, 1999 onward) and used in the cooling system of six-cylinder vehicles, is outside the scope of the order.


Scope ruling August 25, 2000, memorandum from Laurie Parkhill to Richard W. Moreland:
Products covered:
• NTN Bearing Corporation of America - balls used in an EM Coupling are within the scope of the order.


Scope ruling February 12, 2001, memorandum from Laurie Parkhill to Richard W. Moreland:
Products excluded:
• Sanden International (USA) - Parts of an EM Coupling, identified as an orbiting EM plate and a fixed EM plate, are outside the scope of the order.
Scope ruling July 9, 2001, memorandum from Laurie Parkhill to Richard W. Moreland:
Products excluded:
• NTN Corporation, NTN Bearing Corporation of America, NTN Driveshaft, Inc. NTN-Bower Corporation, and NTN-BCA Corporation - Turntable Slewing Bearings used in CT Scan Machines, are outside the scope of the order.
Scope ruling August 9, 2001, memorandum from Laurie Parkhill to Richard W. Moreland:
Products excluded:
• Saint-Gobain Ceramics and Plastics, Inc. (Saint-Gobain) - ceramic ball blanks used in the production of balls are not included within the scope of the orders.


Scope ruling October 1, 2001, memorandum from Laurie Parkhill to Richard W. Moreland:
Products excluded:
• TEMCO Textilmaschinenkomponenten GmbH and Petree & Stoudt Associates, Inc. (TEMCO) - certain textile machinery components are not within the scope of the antidumping duty order on antifriction ball bearings and parts thereof from Germany.


Scope ruling June 22, 2005, memorandum from Laurie Parkhill to Barbara E. Tillman
Products excluded:
• Xerox Corporation (Model No. 020K09050) - Pulley assembly incorporating small single-row radial ball bearings and designed for use in electrostatic printer or photocopier is not within the scope of the antidumping duty order on antifriction ball bearings from Japan


Scope ruling February 9, 2006, memorandum from Laurie Parkhill to Stephen J. Claeys
Products excluded:
• Honeywell International Inc. (Part Numbers 2525386 and 2525464) - Housed bearing assemblies from the United Kingdom containing ball bearings manufactured in the United States are outside the scope of the antidumping duty order on ball bearings and parts thereof from the United Kingdom.


Scope Ruling March 7, 2006, memorandum from Laurie Parkhill to Stephen J. Claeys
Products excluded:
• Xerox Corporation:
Xerox Part Number Part Description

20E25333 Nonsynchronous pulley idler, small
20E25342 Nonsynchronous pulley idler, small
15K66521 Synchronous pulley assembly
20K01020 Synchronous pulley assembly
02S03630 Pulley mounted on shaft, wide
02S03638 Pulley mounted on shaft, narrow
20K01660 Dual pulley assembly mounted on bracket
68K33652 Single pulley assembly mounted on bracket

Pulley assemblies (see part numbers) incorporating small single-row radial ball bearings and designed for use in electrostatic printer or photocopier are not within the scope of the antidumping duty order on antifriction ball bearings from Japan.


Scope Ruling July 31, 2006, memorandum from Laurie Parkhill to Stephen J. Claeys
Products excluded:
• Xerox Corporation - Imports of of certain Schaeffler Groups strut assembly components entering under HTSUSA for use in automotive strut assemblies, are outside the scope of the antidumping duty order on ball bearings and parts thereof from Germany.


Scope Ruling December 14, 2006, memorandum from Laurie Parkhill to Stephen J. Claeys
Products excluded:
• Koyo Corporation of U.S.A. - Imports of certain Koyo x-ray spindle units (Koyo model numbers SEU00598B, SEXFW37109HTMG-1, and SEXFW37216HTMG) are outside the scope of the antidumping duty order on ball bearings and parts thereof from Japan.


Scope Ruling January 29, 2007, memorandum from Laurie Parkhill to Stephen J. Claeys
Products excluded:
• Gates Corporation - Imports of certain Gates belt guide rollers are outside the scope of the antidumping duty order on ball bearings and parts thereof from France.


Scope Ruling August 29, 2007, memorandum from Laurie Parkhill to Stephen J. Claeys
Products excluded:
• Toyota Tsusho America (TAI) - Imports of a certain TAI steel ball used in automobile air vents (TAI product number 255801-0330) is outside of the scope of the antidumping duty order on ball bearings and parts thereof from Japan.