# Certain Freight Rail Couplers and Parts Thereof From Mexico: Preliminary Results and Partial Rescission of Antidumping Duty Administrative Review; 2023-2024
**AGENCY:**
Enforcement and Compliance, International Trade Administration, Department of Commerce.
**SUMMARY:**
The U.S. Department of Commerce (Commerce) is conducting an administrative review of the antidumping duty order on certain freight rail couplers and parts thereof (freight rail couplers) from Mexico. The period of review (POR) is May 3, 2023, through October 31, 2024. Commerce preliminarily determines that Amsted Rail Company, Inc.; ASF-K de Mexico, S. de R.L. de C.V. (Amsted) made sales of subject merchandise at less than normal value during the POR. We invite interested parties to comment on these preliminary results.
**DATES:**
Applicable January 30, 2026.
**FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:**
Patrick Barton, AD/CVD Operations, Office III, Enforcement and Compliance, International Trade Administration, U.S. Department of Commerce, 1401 Constitution Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20230; telephone: (202) 482-0012.
**SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:**
**Background**
On November 15, 2023, Commerce published in the *Federal Register* the antidumping duty order on freight rail couplers from Mexico. [^1] On December 18, 2024, based on timely requests for review, Commerce initiated an administrative review covering 23 companies. [^2]
[^1]*See Certain Freight Rail Couplers and Parts Thereof from Mexico: Antidumping Duty Order,* 88 FR 78308 (November 15, 2023) ( *Order* ).
[^2]*See Initiation of Antidumping and Countervailing Duty Administrative Reviews,* 89 FR 102856, 102860 (December 18, 2024) ( *Initiation Notice* ).
On December 9, 2024, Commerce tolled the deadline to issue the preliminary results in administrative reviews for which the opportunity to request the review was published in November or December 2024, by 90 days. [^3] Additionally, due to the lapse in appropriations and Federal Government shutdown, on November 14, 2025, Commerce tolled all deadlines in administrative proceedings by 47 days, [^4] and, due to a backlog of documents that were electronically filed via Enforcement and Compliance's Antidumping and Countervailing Duty Centralized Electronic Service System (ACCESS) during the Federal Government shutdown, on November 24, 2025, Commerce tolled all deadlines in administrative proceedings by an additional 21 days. [^5] On December 30, 2025, Commerce extended the deadline for these preliminary results to February 6, 2026. [^6]
[^3]*See* Memorandum, “Tolling of Deadlines for Antidumping and Countervailing Duty Proceedings,” dated December 9, 2024. The opportunity notice to request this administrative review was published on November 1, 2024. *See Antidumping or Countervailing Duty Order, Finding, or Suspended Investigation; Opportunity to Request Administrative Review and Join Annual Inquiry Service List,* 89 FR 87338 (November 1, 2024).
[^4]*See* Memorandum, “Deadlines Affected by the Shutdown of the Federal Government,” dated November 14, 2025.
[^5]*See* Memorandum, “Tolling of all Case Deadlines,” dated November 24, 2025.
[^6]*See* Memorandum, “Extension of Deadline for Preliminary Results of Antidumping Duty Administrative Review,” dated December 30, 2025.
For a complete description of the events that followed the initiation of this review, *see* the Preliminary Decision Memorandum. [^7] A list of topics discussed in the Preliminary Decision Memorandum is attached as Appendix I to this notice. The Preliminary Decision Memorandum is a public document and is on file electronically via ACCESS. ACCESS is available to registered users at *https://access.trade.gov.* In addition, a complete version of the Preliminary Decision Memorandum can be accessed directly at *https://access.trade.gov/public/FRNoticesListLayout.aspx.*
[^7]*See* Memorandum, “Decision Memorandum for the Preliminary Results of Antidumping Duty Administrative Review: Certain Freight Rail Couplers and Parts Thereof from Mexico; 2023-2024,” dated concurrently with, and hereby adopted by, this notice (Preliminary Decision Memorandum).
**Scope of the Order**
The product covered by this *Order* is freight rail couplers from Mexico. For a full description of the scope, *see* the Preliminary Decision Memorandum. [^8]
[^8]*Id.* at 2-3.
**Methodology**
Commerce is conducting this review in accordance with section 751(a)(1)(B) of the Tariff Act of 1930, as amended (the Act). Constructed export price was calculated in accordance with section 772 of the Act. Normal value was calculated in accordance with section 773 of the Act. For a full description of the methodology underlying our conclusions, *see* the Preliminary Decision Memorandum. A list of the topics discussed in the Preliminary Decision Memorandum is included as an appendix to this notice.
**Rescission of Administrative Review, in Part**
Pursuant to 19 CFR 351.213(d)(1), Commerce will rescind an administrative review, in whole or in part, if the parties that requested a review withdraw the request within 90 days of the date of publication of the notice of initiation. On January 9, 2025, the Coalition of Freight Coupler Producers (the petitioner) timely withdrew its request for a review of 22 companies upon which we initiated the review. [^9] No other parties requested an administrative review of these companies. Therefore, in accordance with 19 CFR 351.213(d)(1), Commerce is rescinding this administrative review with respect to the 22 companies listed in Appendix II to this notice.
[^9]*See* Petitioner's Letter, “Withdrawal of Administrative Review Request,” dated January 9, 2025.
**Preliminary Results of Review**
We preliminarily determine that the following estimated weighted-average dumping margin exists for the period May 3, 2023, through October 31, 2024:
| Exporter/producer | Weighted- |
| --- | --- |
| Amsted Rail Company, Inc.; ASF-K de Mexico, S. de R.L. de C.V | 6.50 |
**Disclosure**
Commerce intends to disclose its calculations and analysis performed to interested parties in these preliminary results within five days of any public announcement or, if there is no public announcement, within five days of the date of publication of this notice in the *Federal Register* , in accordance with 19 CFR 351.224(b).
**Public Comment**
Case briefs or other written comments may be submitted to the Assistant Secretary for Enforcement and Compliance. Pursuant to 19 CFR 351.309(c)(1)(ii), we have modified the deadline for interested parties to submit case briefs to Commerce to no later than 21 days after the date of the publication of this notice. [^10 ] Rebuttal briefs, limited to issues raised in the case briefs, may be filed not later than five days after the date for filing case briefs. [^11] Parties who submit case briefs or rebuttal briefs in this proceeding are encouraged to submit with each argument: (1) a statement of the issue; and (2) a brief summary of the argument; and (3) a table of authorities. [^12] All briefs must be filed electronically using ACCESS. An electronically filed document must be received successfully in its entirety in ACCESS by 5:00 p.m. Eastern Time on the established deadline.
[^10] Commerce is exercising its discretion under 19 CFR 351.309(c)(1)(ii) to alter the time limit for the filing of case briefs. *See* 19 CFR 351.309(c)(1)(ii).
[^11]*See* 19 CFR 351.309(d); *see also Administrative Protective Order, Service, and Other Procedures in Antidumping and Countervailing Duty Proceedings,* 88 FR 67069, 67077 (September 29, 2023) ( *APO and Service Final Rule* ).
[^12]*See* 19 CFR 351.309(c)(2) and (d)(2).
As provided under 19 CFR 351.309(c)(2)(iii) and (d)(2)(iii), we request that interested parties provide at the beginning of their briefs a public, executive summary for each issue raised in their briefs. [^13] Further, we request that interested parties limit their executive summary of each issue to no more than 450 words, not including citations. We intend to use the executive summaries as the basis of the comment summaries included in the issues and decision memorandum that will accompany the final results in this administrative review. We request that interested parties include footnotes for relevant citations in the executive summary of each issue. Note that Commerce has amended certain of its requirements pertaining to the service of documents in 19 CFR 351.303(f). [^14]
[^13] We use the term “issue” here to describe an argument that Commerce would normally address in a comment of the Issues and Decision Memorandum.
[^14]*See Administrative Protective Order, Service, and Other Procedures in Antidumping and Countervailing Duty Proceedings; Final Rule,* 88 FR 67069 (September 29, 2023).
Pursuant to 19 CFR 351.310(c), interested parties who wish to request a hearing, must submit a written request to the Assistant Secretary for Enforcement and Compliance, filed electronically via ACCESS. An electronically filed document must be received successfully in its entirety via ACCESS by 5:00 p.m. Eastern Time within 30 days after the date of publication of this notice. [^15] Requests should contain: (1) the party's name, address, and telephone number; (2) the number of participants; and (3) a list of issues to be discussed. Issues raised in the hearing will be limited to those raised in the respective case briefs. Commerce intends to issue the final results of this administrative review, including the results of its analysis of the issues raised in any written briefs, not later than 120 days after the date of publication of these preliminary results in the *Federal Register**,* pursuant to section 751(a)(3)(A) of the Act, unless extended.
[^15]*See* 19 CFR 351.310(c).
**Assessment Rate**
Pursuant to section 751(a)(2)(A) of the Act, upon issuance of the final results, Commerce will determine, and U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) shall assess, antidumping duties on all appropriate entries covered by this review. [^16] If a respondent's weighted-average dumping margin is above *de minimis* in the final results of this review, we will calculate an importer-specific assessment rate based on the ratio of the total amount of dumping calculated for each importer's examined sales and the total entered value of the sales in accordance with 19 CFR 351.212(b)(1). [^17] Where the respondent did not report entered value, we calculated a per-unit assessment rate for each importer by dividing the total amount of dumping calculated for the examined sales made to that importer by the total quantity associated with those sales. To determine whether an importer-specific, per-unit assessment rate is *de minimis,* in accordance with 19 CFR 351.106(c)(2), we also calculated an importer-specific *ad valorem* ratio based on estimated entered values. If a respondent's weighted-average dumping margin or an importer-specific assessment rate is zero or *de minimis* in the final results of review, we will instruct CBP to liquidate the appropriate entries without regard to antidumping duties in accordance with the *Final Modification for Reviews.*[^18]
[^16]*See* 19 CFR 351.212(b).
[^17] In these preliminary results, Commerce applied the assessment rate calculation method adopted in *Antidumping Proceedings: Calculation of the Weighted-Average Dumping Margin and Assessment Rate in Certain Antidumping Duty Proceedings; Final Modification,* 77 FR 8101 (February 14, 2012) ( *Final Modification for Reviews* ).
[^18]*See Final Modification for Reviews,* 77 FR at 8103; *see also* 19 CFR 351.106(c)(2).
In accordance with Commerce's “automatic assessment” practice, for entries of subject merchandise during the POR produced by Amsted for which it did not know that the merchandise was destined for the United States, we will instruct CBP to liquidate such entries at the all-others rate in the original less-than-fair-value (LTFV) investigation ( *i.e.,* 48.10 percent) if there is no rate for the intermediate company(ies) involved in the transaction. [^19]
[^19]*See Order,* 88 FR at 78308; *see also Antidumping and Countervailing Duty Proceedings: Assessment of Antidumping Duties,* 68 FR 23954 (May 6, 2003).
The final results of this administrative review shall be the basis for the assessment of antidumping duties on entries of merchandise covered by the final results of this review and for future deposits of estimated duties, where applicable. [^20] We intend to issue assessment instructions to CBP no earlier than 41 days after the date of publication of the final results of this review in the *Federal Register* , in accordance with 19 CFR 356.8(a).
[^20]*See* section 751(a)(2)(C) of the Act.
For the companies for which this review is being rescinded, antidumping duties shall be assessed on entries at rates equal to the cash deposit of estimated antidumping duties required at the time of entry, or withdrawal from warehouse, for consumption, in accordance with 19 CFR 351.212(c)(1)(i). Commerce intends to issue assessment instructions to CBP for the companies listed in Appendix II to this notice no earlier than 41 days after the date of publication of this notice in the *Federal Register* , in accordance with 19 CFR 356.8(a).
**Cash Deposit Requirements**
The following cash deposit requirements for estimated antidumping duties will be effective upon publication of the notice of final results of this review for all shipments of freight rail couplers from Mexico entered, or withdrawn from warehouse, for consumption on or after the date of publication as provided by section 751(a)(2)(C) of the Act: (1) the cash deposit rate for companies subject to this review will be equal to the dumping margin established in the final results of the review; (2) for merchandise exported by companies not covered in this review but covered in a prior segment of this proceeding, the cash deposit rate will continue to be the company-specific rate published for the most recent period; (3) if the exporter is not a firm covered in this review, a prior review, or the LTFV investigation but the producer is, the cash deposit rate will be the rate established for the most recently completed segment for the producer of the merchandise; (4) the cash deposit rate for all other producers or exporters will continue to be the 48.10 percent, the all-others rate established in the LTFV investigation. [^21] These cash deposit requirements, when imposed, shall remain in effect until further notice.
[^21]*See Order,* 88 FR at 78308.
**Notification to Importers**
This notice serves as a preliminary reminder to importers of their responsibility under 19 CFR 351.402(f)(2) to file a certificate regarding the reimbursement of antidumping countervailing duties prior to liquidation of the relevant entries during this period of review. Failure to comply with this requirement could result in Commerce's presumption that reimbursement of antidumping duties occurred and the subsequent assessment of double antidumping duties.
**Notification to Interested Parties**
Commerce is issuing and publishing these preliminary results in accordance with sections 751(a)(1) and 777(i) of the Act, and 19 CFR 351.221(b)(4).
Dated: January 23, 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 I**
**List of Topics Discussed in the Preliminary Decision Memorandum**
I. Summary
II. Background
III. Scope of the *Order*
IV. Discussion of the Methodology
V. Currency Conversion
VI. Recommendation
**Appendix II**
**Companies Rescinded From Administrative Review**
1. BNSF Railway
2. CAI Rail Inc.
3. Canadian National Railway Company
4. Canadian Pacific Kansas City Limited
5. Chicago Freight Car Leasing Company
6. CIT Rail (First Citizens Bank)
7. CSX Transportation Corp.
8. Freightcar America, Inc.
9. GATX de Mexico
10. Mitsui de Mexico, S. de R.L. de C.V.
11. Modern Rail Capital
12. National Steel Car, Ltd.
13. Norfolk Southern Railway
14. Strato, Inc.
15. The Greenbrier Companies, Inc.
16. Trinity Rail Group LLC
17. TTX Company
18. Tubos Acero Mexico
19. Union Pacific Railroad
20. Union Tank Car Company
21. Wabtec Corporation
22. Wells Fargo Rail