Truck Bed Covers Investigation Initiation

Content

DATES:

Applicable March 17, 2026.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Aleksandras Nakutis, Office I, AD/CVD Operations, Enforcement and Compliance, International Trade Administration, U.S. Department
of Commerce, 1401 Constitution Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20230; telephone: (202) 482-3147.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

The Petition

On February 25, 2026, the U.S. Department of Commerce (Commerce) received a countervailing duty (CVD) petition concerning
imports of truck bed covers from the People's Republic of China (China), filed in proper form on behalf of RealTruck (the
petitioner), (1) a domestic producer of truck bed covers. (2) The CVD Petition was accompanied by an antidumping duty (AD) Petition concerning imports of truck bed covers from China. (3)

Between March 2 and 11, 2026, Commerce requested supplemental information pertaining to certain aspects of the Petition in
supplemental questionnaires. (4) Between March 6 and 12, 2026, the petitioner filed timely responses to these requests for additional information. (5)

In accordance with section 702(b)(1) of the Tariff Act of 1930, as amended (the Act), the petitioner alleges that the Government
of China (GOC) is providing countervailable subsidies, within the meaning of sections 701 and 771(5) of the Act, to producers
of truck bed covers in China, and that such imports are materially injuring, or threatening material injury to, the domestic
industry producing truck bed covers in the United States. Consistent with section 702(b)(1) of the Act and 19 CFR 351.202(b),
for those alleged programs on which we are initiating a CVD investigation, the Petition was accompanied by information reasonably
available to the petitioner supporting its allegations.

Commerce finds that the petitioner filed the Petition on behalf of the domestic industry, because the petitioner is an interested
party, as defined in section 771(9)(C) of the Act. Commerce also finds that the petitioner demonstrated sufficient industry
support with respect to the initiation of the requested CVD investigation. (6)

Period of Investigation (POI)

Because the Petition was filed on February 25, 2026, the POI is January 1, 2025, through December 31, 2025. (7)

Scope of the Investigation

The products covered by this investigation are truck bed covers from China. For a full description of the scope of this investigation, see the appendix to this notice.

Comments on the Scope of the Investigation

On March 3 and 10, 2026, Commerce requested information and clarification from the petitioner regarding the proposed scope
to ensure that the scope language in the Petition is an accurate

  reflection of the products for which the domestic industry is seeking relief. [(8)]() On March 6 and 12, 2026, the petitioner provided clarifications and revised the scope. [(9)]() The description of merchandise covered by this investigation, as described in the appendix to this notice, reflects these
  clarifications.

As discussed in the Preamble to Commerce's regulations, we are setting aside a period for interested parties to raise issues regarding product coverage
(i.e., scope). (10) Commerce will consider all scope comments received from interested parties and, if necessary, will consult with interested
parties prior to the issuance of the preliminary determination. If scope comments include factual information, all such factual
information should be limited to public information. (11) Commerce requests that interested parties provide at the beginning of their scope comments a public executive summary for
each comment or issue raised in their submission. Commerce further requests that interested parties limit their public executive
summary of each comment or issue to no more than 450 words, not including citations. Commerce intends to use the public executive
summaries as the basis of the comment summaries included in the analysis of scope comments. To facilitate preparation of its
questionnaires, Commerce requests that scope comments be submitted by 5:00 p.m. Eastern Time (ET) on April 6, 2026, which
is 20 calendar days from the signature date of this notice. Any rebuttal comments, which may include factual information,
and should also be limited to public information, must be filed by 5:00 p.m. ET on April 16, 2026, which is 10 calendar days
from the initial comment deadline.

Commerce requests that any factual information that parties consider relevant to the scope of this investigation be submitted
during that period. However, if a party subsequently finds that additional factual information pertaining to the scope of
the investigation may be relevant, the party must contact Commerce and request permission to submit the additional information.
All scope comments must be filed simultaneously on the records of the concurrent AD and CVD investigations.

Filing Requirements

All submissions to Commerce must be filed electronically via Enforcement and Compliance's Antidumping Duty and Countervailing
Duty Centralized Electronic Service System (ACCESS), unless an exception applies. (12) An electronically filed document must be received successfully in its entirety by the time and date it is due.

Consultations

Pursuant to sections 702(b)(4)(A)(i) and (ii) of the Act, Commerce notified the GOC of the receipt of the Petition and provided
an opportunity for consultations with respect to the Petition. (13) On February 28, 2026, the GOC submitted written comments regarding the CVD Petition. (14)

Determination of Industry Support for the Petition

Section 702(b)(1) of the Act requires that a petition be filed on behalf of the domestic industry. Section 702(c)(4)(A) of
the Act provides that a petition meets this requirement if the domestic producers or workers who support the petition account
for: (i) at least 25 percent of the total production of the domestic like product; and (ii) more than 50 percent of the production
of the domestic like product produced by that portion of the industry expressing support for, or opposition to, the petition.
Moreover, section 702(c)(4)(D) of the Act provides that, if the petition does not establish support of domestic producers
or workers accounting for more than 50 percent of the total production of the domestic like product, Commerce shall: (i) poll
the industry or rely on other information in order to determine if there is support for the petition, as required by subparagraph
(A); or (ii) determine industry support using a statistically valid sampling method to poll the “industry.”

Section 771(4)(A) of the Act defines the “industry” as the producers as a whole of a domestic like product. Thus, to determine
whether a petition has the requisite industry support, the statute directs Commerce to look to producers and workers who produce
the domestic like product. The U.S. International Trade Commission (ITC), which is responsible for determining whether “the
domestic industry” has been injured, must also determine what constitutes a domestic like product in order to define the industry.
While both Commerce and the ITC apply the same statutory definition regarding the domestic like product, (15) they do so for different purposes and pursuant to a separate and distinct authority. In addition, Commerce's determination
is subject to limitations of time and information. Although this may result in different definitions of the like product,
such differences do not render the decision of either agency contrary to law. (16)

Section 771(10) of the Act defines the domestic like product as “a product which is like, or in the absence of like, most
similar in characteristics and uses with, the article subject to an investigation under this title.” Thus, the reference point
from which the domestic like product analysis begins is “the article subject to an investigation” (i.e., the class or kind of merchandise to be investigated, which normally will be the scope as defined in the petition).

With regard to the domestic like product, the petitioner does not offer a definition of the domestic like product distinct
from the scope of the investigation. (17) Based on our analysis of the information submitted on the record, we have determined that truck bed covers, as defined in
the scope, constitute a single domestic like product, and we have analyzed industry support in terms of that domestic like
product. (18)

In determining whether the petitioner has standing under section 702(c)(4)(A)

  of the Act, we considered the industry support data contained in the Petition with reference to the domestic like product
  as defined in the “Scope of the Investigation,” in the appendix to this notice. To establish industry support, the petitioner
  provided its own 2025 production of the domestic like product and compared this to the total 2025 U.S. production of the domestic
  like product by the entire U.S. truck bed covers industry. [(19)]() We relied on data provided by the petitioner for purposes of measuring industry support. [(20)]()

Our review of the data provided in the Petition, the First General Issues Supplement, and other information readily available
to Commerce indicates that the petitioner has established industry support for the Petition. (21) First, the Petition established support from domestic producers (or workers) accounting for more than 50 percent of the total
production of the domestic like product and, as such, Commerce is not required to take further action in order to evaluate
industry support (e.g., polling). (22) Second, the domestic producers (or workers) have met the statutory criteria for industry support under section 702(c)(4)(A)(i)
of the Act because the domestic producers (or workers) who support the Petition account for at least 25 percent of the total
production of the domestic like product. (23) Finally, the domestic producers (or workers) have met the statutory criteria for industry support under section 702(c)(4)(A)(ii)
of the Act because the domestic producers (or workers) who support the Petition account for more than 50 percent of the production
of the domestic like product produced by that portion of the industry expressing support for, or opposition to, the Petition. (24) Accordingly, Commerce determines that the Petition was filed on behalf of the domestic industry within the meaning of section
702(b)(1) of the Act. (25)

Injury Test

Because China is a “Subsidies Agreement Country” within the meaning of section 701(b) of the Act, section 701(a)(2) of the
Act applies to this investigation. Accordingly, the ITC must determine whether imports of the subject merchandise from China
materially injure, or threaten material injury to, a U.S. industry.

Allegations and Evidence of Material Injury and Causation

The petitioner alleges that imports of the subject merchandise are benefiting from countervailable subsidies and that such
imports are causing, or threaten to cause, material injury to the U.S. industry producing the domestic like product. In addition,
the petitioner alleges that subject imports exceed the negligibility threshold provided for under section 771(24)(A) of the
Act. (26)

The petitioner contends that the industry's injured condition is illustrated by a significant increase in the volume of subject
imports; reduced market share; underselling and price depression and/or suppression; lost sales and revenues; and negative
impact on operations and financial performance. (27) We assessed the allegations and supporting evidence regarding material injury, threat of material injury, causation, as well
as negligibility, and we have determined that these allegations are properly supported by adequate evidence, and meet the
statutory requirements for initiation. (28)

Initiation of CVD Investigation

Based upon the examination of the Petition and supplemental responses, we find that they meet the requirements of section
702 of the Act. Therefore, we are initiating a CVD investigation to determine whether imports of truck bed covers from China
benefit from countervailable subsidies conferred by the GOC. In accordance with section 703(b)(1) of the Act and 19 CFR 351.205(b)(1),
unless postponed, we will make our preliminary determination no later than 65 days after the date of this initiation.

Based on our review of the Petition, we find that there is sufficient information to initiate a CVD investigation on 24 programs
alleged by the petitioner. For a full discussion of the basis for our decision to initiate on each program, see the China CVD Initiation Checklist. A public version of the initiation checklist for this investigation is available on ACCESS.

Respondent Selection

The petitioner identified 30 companies in China as producers and/or exporters of truck bed covers. (29) Commerce intends to follow its standard practice in CVD investigations and calculate company-specific subsidy rates in the
investigation. Following standard practice in CVD investigations, in the event Commerce determines that the number of companies
is large, and it cannot individually examine each company based upon Commerce's resources, where appropriate, Commerce intends
to select mandatory respondents based on quantity and value (Q&V) questionnaires issued to the potential respondents. Commerce
normally selects mandatory respondents in CVD investigations using U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) entry data for
U.S. imports under the appropriate Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States (HTSUS) subheadings listed in the scope
of the investigation. However, for this investigation, the main HTSUS subheading under which the subject merchandise would
enter (i.e., 8708.29.5160) is a basket category under which non-subject merchandise may also enter. Therefore, instead of relying on CBP
entry data in selecting respondents, we intend to issue Q&V questionnaires to each potential respondent for which there is
complete address information on the record.

Commerce will post the Q&V questionnaires along with filing instructions on Commerce's website at https://www.trade.gov/ec-adcvd-qv-questionnaire. Producers/exporters of truck bed covers from China that do not receive Q&V questionnaires may still submit a response to the
Q&V questionnaire and can obtain a copy of the Q&V questionnaire from Commerce's website. Responses to the Q&V questionnaire
must be submitted by the relevant producers/exporters no later than 5:00 p.m. ET on March 31, 2026, which is two weeks from
the signature date of this notice. All Q&V questionnaire responses must be filed electronically via ACCESS. An electronically
filed document must be received successfully, in its entirety, by ACCESS no later than 5:00 p.m. ET on the deadline noted
above.

Interested parties must submit applications for disclosure under administrative protective order (APO) in accordance with
19 CFR 351.305(b). Instructions for filing such applications may be found on Commerce's website at https://www.trade.gov/administrative-protective-orders.

Distribution of Copies of the Petition

In accordance with section 702(b)(4)(A) of the Act and 19 CFR 351.202(f), a copy of the public version of the Petition has
been provided to the GOC via ACCESS. To the extent practicable, we will attempt to provide a copy of the public version of
the Petition to each exporter named in the Petition, as provided under 19 CFR 351.203(c)(2).

ITC Notification

Commerce will notify the ITC of its initiation, as required by section 702(d) of the Act.

Preliminary Determination by the ITC

The ITC will preliminarily determine, within 45 days after the date on which the Petition was filed, whether there is a reasonable
indication that imports of truck bed covers from China are materially injuring, or threatening material injury to, a U.S.
industry. (30) A negative ITC determination will result in the investigation being terminated. (31) Otherwise, this CVD investigation will proceed according to statutory and regulatory time limits.

Submission of Factual Information

Factual information is defined in 19 CFR 351.102(b)(21) as: (i) evidence submitted in response to questionnaires; (ii) evidence
submitted in support of allegations; (iii) publicly available information to value factors of production under 19 CFR 351.408(c)
or to measure the adequacy of remuneration under 19 CFR 351.511(a)(2); (iv) evidence placed on the record by Commerce; and
(v) evidence other than factual information described in (i)-(iv). Section 351.301(b) of Commerce's regulations requires any
party, when submitting factual information, to specify under which subsection of 19 CFR 351.102(b)(21) the information is
being submitted (32) and, if the information is submitted to rebut, clarify, or correct factual information already on the record, to provide an
explanation identifying the information already on the record that the factual information seeks to rebut, clarify, or correct. (33) Time limits for the submission of factual information are addressed in 19 CFR 351.301, which provides specific time limits
based on the type of factual information being submitted. Interested parties should review the regulations prior to submitting
factual information in this investigation.

Extensions of Time Limits

Parties may request an extension of time limits before the expiration of a time limit established under 19 CFR 351.301, or
as otherwise specified by Commerce. In general, an extension request will be considered untimely if it is filed after the
expiration of the time limit established under 19 CFR 351.301, or as otherwise specified by Commerce. (34) For submissions that are due from multiple parties simultaneously, an extension request will be considered untimely if it
is filed after 10:00 a.m. ET on the due date. Under certain circumstances, Commerce may elect to specify a different time
limit by which extension requests will be considered untimely for submissions which are due from multiple parties simultaneously.
In such a case, we will inform parties in a letter or memorandum of the deadline (including a specified time) by which extension
requests must be filed to be considered timely. An extension request must be made in a separate, standalone submission; under
limited circumstances we will grant untimely filed requests for the extension of time limits, where we determine, based on
19 CFR 351.302, that extraordinary circumstances exist. Parties should review Commerce's regulations concerning the extension
of time limits and the Time Limits Final Rule prior to submitting factual information in this investigation. (35)

Certification Requirements

Any party submitting factual information in an AD or CVD proceeding must certify to the accuracy and completeness of that
information. (36) Parties must use the certification formats provided in 19 CFR 351.303(g). (37) Commerce intends to reject factual submissions if the submitting party does not comply with the applicable certification requirements.

Notification to Interested Parties

Interested parties must submit applications for disclosure under APO in accordance with 19 CFR 351.305. Parties wishing to
participate in this investigation should ensure that they meet the requirements of 19 CFR 351.103(d) (e.g., by filing the required letters of appearance). Note that Commerce has amended certain of its requirements pertaining to the
service of documents in 19 CFR 351.303(f). (38)

This notice is issued and published pursuant to sections 702 and 777(i) of the Act, and 19 CFR 351.203(c).

Dated: March 17, 2026. Christopher Abbott, Deputy Assistant Secretary for Policy and Negotiations, performing the non-exclusive functions and duties of the Assistant
Secretary for Enforcement and Compliance.

Appendix

Scope of the Investigation

The scope of the investigation covers truck bed covers, which are protective shields made of aluminum, steel, fiberglass,
carbon fiber, plastic, and/or water-resistant fabric that are sized to span the open-top area of a pickup truck. When fully
assembled and installed, truck bed covers have a width between 45 and 75 inches (actual) and a length between 55 and 100 inches
(actual), and can be used to secure the cargo area of a pickup truck and/or repel water.

Truck bed covers typically encompass four general configurations— i.e., folding, roll-up, one-piece, and retractable. Folding truck bed covers consist of two or more interconnected, hinged panels
which may be made from a rigid material or a soft material with a rigid frame. Roll-up truck bed covers can be made of soft
material with rigid crossbars, or rigid material such as slats, which allow the cover to roll forward for access to the truck
bed, and which can be secured with straps, buckles, or other fasteners. One-piece truck bed covers are rigid covers that open
from the tailgate end of the truck bed using a hinge or pivot, typically with the assistance of struts for opening and closing.
Retractable truck bed covers are made of interconnected rigid slats or one-piece aluminum-reinforced polycarbonate that retract
into a recessed canister to allow access to the truck bed. Retractable truck bed covers may be manually operated or electrically
powered with a motor, and electric models may include additional features such as fob keys, Bluetooth connectivity, or LED
lights.

The scope of the investigation includes not only the cover material (i.e., the protective shield made of aluminum, steel, fiberglass, carbon fiber, plastic, and/or water-resistant fabric), but also
any accompanying hardware

  for the mounting or storage of the truck bed cover (*e.g.,* rails, canisters, latches, straps, clasps, clamps, nuts, bolts, washers, screws, hitch pins, weather strips/seals/gaskets)
  or other parts (*e.g.,* locks, struts, drain tubes, motors), provided that such hardware or other parts are entered with and invoiced with the cover
  material. Truck bed covers are included within the scope whether or not they are accompanied with such hardware or other parts.
  Moreover, any hardware for the mounting or storage of the truck bed cover (*e.g.,* rails, canisters, latches, straps, clasps, clamps, nuts, bolts, washers, screws, hitch pins, weather strips/seals/gaskets)
  or other parts (*e.g.,* locks, struts, drain tubes, motors) are covered within the scope if such items are separately entered as a truck bed cover
  mounting or installation kit.

Excluded from the scope are truck caps (also known as camper shells, toppers, or canopies), which are enclosures that can
be mounted on truck bed rails to extend the height of a truck bed by at least 12 inches (actual), thus creating a fully-enclosed,
lockable storage area for cargo.

Also excluded from the scope of the investigation are any products already covered by the scope of any extant antidumping
and/or countervailing duty orders, including Aluminum Extrusions from the People's Republic of China: Antidumping Duty Order, 76 FR 30650 (May 26, 2011), and Aluminum Extrusions from the People's Republic of China: Countervailing Duty Order, 76 FR 30653 (May 26, 2011).

The products subject to the investigation are currently classifiable under subheading 8708.29.5160 of the Harmonized Tariff
Schedule of the United States (HTSUS). Although the HTSUS subheading is provided for convenience and customs purposes, the
written description of the scope of the investigation is dispositive.

[FR Doc. 2026-05536 Filed 3-19-26; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 3510-DS-P

Footnotes

(1) The petitioner is RealTruck, Inc., Laurmark Enterprises, Inc., Undercover, Inc., Retrax Holdings, LLC, Truxedo, Inc., Extang
Corporation, A.R.E. Accessories LLC, and Roll-N-Lock Corporation (collectively, RealTruck).

(2) See Petitioner's Letter, “Antidumping Duties and Countervailing Duties,” dated February 25, 2026 (Petition).

(3) Id.

(4) See Commerce's Letters, “Supplemental Questions,” dated March 3, 2026 (First General Issues Supplemental Questionnaire); “Supplemental
Questions,” dated March 2, 2026; and “Supplemental Questions,” dated March 10, 2026 (Second General Issues Supplemental Questionnaire).

(5) See Petitioner's Letters, “Amendments to Antidumping and Countervailing Duty Petitions; Volume SI—General Issues and Injury,”
dated March 6, 2026 (First General Issues Supplement); “Amendments to Countervailing Duty Petition; Volume SIII—China CVD,”
dated March 5, 2026; and “Amendments to Antidumping and Countervailing Duty Petitions; Volume SSI—General Issues and Injury,”
dated March 12, 2026 (Second General Issues Supplement).

(6) See section on “Determination of Industry Support for the Petition,” infra.

(7) See 19 CFR 351.204(b)(2).

(8) See First General Issues Supplemental Questionnaire; see also Second General Issues Supplemental Questionnaire.

(9) See First General Issues Supplement at 2-7 and Exhibit S-1; see also Second General Issues Supplement at 1-4 and Exhibit SSI-1.

(10) See Antidumping Duties; Countervailing Duties, Final Rule, 62 FR 27296, 27323 (May 19, 1997) (Preamble); see also 19 CFR 351.312.

(11) See 19 CFR 351.102(b)(21) (defining “factual information”).

(12) See Antidumping and Countervailing Duty Proceedings: Electronic Filing Procedures; Administrative Protective Order Procedures, 76 FR 39263 (July 6, 2011); see also Enforcement and Compliance; Change of Electronic Filing System Name, 79 FR 69046 (November 20, 2014) for details of Commerce's electronic filing requirements, effective August 5, 2011. Information
on using ACCESS can be found at https://access.trade.gov/help.aspx and a handbook can be found at https://access.trade.gov/help/Handbook_on_Electronic_Filing_Procedures.pdf.

(13) See Commerce's Letter, “Invitation for Consultations to Discuss the Countervailing Duty Petition,” dated February 26, 2026.

(14) See GOC's Letter, “Comments on CVD Petition on Truck Bed Covers from China (C-570-224),” dated February 28, 2026.

(15) See section 771(10) of the Act.

(16) See USEC, Inc. v. United States, 132 F.Supp.2d 1, 8 (CIT 2001) (citing Algoma Steel Corp., Ltd. v. United States, 688 F.Supp. 639, 644 (CIT 1988), aff'd Algoma Steel Corp., Ltd. v. United States, 865 F.2d 240 (Fed. Cir. 1989)).

(17) For a discussion of the domestic like product analysis as applied to this case and information regarding industry support, see Checklist, “Countervailing Duty Investigation Initiation Checklist: Truck Bed Covers from the People's Republic of China,”
dated concurrently with, and hereby adopted by, this notice (China CVD Initiation Checklist), at Attachment II, “Analysis
of Industry Support for the Antidumping and Countervailing Duty Petitions Covering Truck Bed Covers from the People's Republic
of China,” (Attachment II). This checklist is on file electronically via ACCESS.

(18) For further discussion, see Attachment II of the China CVD Initiation Checklist

(19) Id.

(20) For further discussion, see Attachment II of the China CVD Initiation Checklist.

(21) Id.

(22) Id.; see also section 702(c)(4)(D) of the Act.

(23) See Attachment II of the China CVD Initiation Checklist.

(24) Id.

(25) Id.

(26) For further discussion, see China CVD Initiation Checklists at Attachment III, Analysis of Allegations and Evidence of Material Injury and Causation for
the Antidumping and Countervailing Duty Petitions Covering Truck Bed Covers from the People's Republic of China.

(27) Id.

(28) Id.

(29) See Petition at Volume I (pages 14-20); see also First General Issues Supplement at 1-2.

(30) See section 703(a)(1) of the Act.

(31) Id.

(32) See 19 CFR 351.301(b).

(33) See 19 CFR 351.301(b)(2).

(34) See 19 CFR 351.302.

(35) See 19 CFR 351.301; see also Extension of Time Limits; Final Rule, 78 FR 57790 (September 20, 2013) (Time Limits Final Rule), available at https://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/FR-2013-09-20/html/2013-22853.htm.

(36) See section 782(b) of the Act.

(37) See Certification of Factual Information to Import Administration During Antidumping and Countervailing Duty Proceedings, 78 FR 42678 (July 17, 2013) (Final Rule); see also frequently asked questions regarding the Final Rule, available at https://enforcement.trade.gov/tlei/notices/factual_info_final_rule_FAQ_07172013.pdf.

(38) See Administrative Protective Order, Service, and Other Procedures in Antidumping and Countervailing Duty Proceedings, 88 FR 67069 (September 29, 2023).

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