The Tire Industry Association (TIA) has sent a letter to President Barack Obama urging him to reject the recent finding by the U.S. International Trade Commission (ITC) concerning the imposition of import duties on all passenger and light truck tires imported from China.
A copy of the letter was also sent to the United States Trade Representative (USTR) Ron Kirk.
The letter reiterated TIA’s opposition to this remedy, which is being proposed by the USTR. This
includes TIA’s belief that the proposed remedy:
* would not protect U.S. manufacturing jobs;
* would result in higher prices and fewer options for consumers, and would be especially punitive, given the current economic climate;
* would create a market disruption; and
* could prove dangerous, for if consumers do not have access to affordable tires, they may defer purchasing needed replacement tires for their vehicles, thus creating a potential hazard on America’s roads.
“TIA strongly encourages President Obama to reject this, and all other ill-conceived proposals
concerning the importation of tires manufactured in China," says TIA President Roy Littlefield. "The bottom line is that it won’t help American workers, and it will only harm American consumers and tire dealers, many of whom are hard-working, independent businesspeople.”
Littlefield went on to stress TIA’s long-standing position that all tires -- regardless of country of origin -- should be held to the same rigorous federal safety standards, including tires manufactured in China.
