BEIJING (Jan. 7, 2008) — A U.S. Commerce Department preliminary determination that the Chinese government subsidizes its off-the-road tire manufacturers is unfair and discriminatory against Chinese industry, the Chinese Ministry of Commerce has declared.
"The unjust determination by the U.S. side was not only violating its own law and the multilateral rules but also self-evident of its discrimination against the Chinese enterprises," according to the statement from the Ministry of Commerce.
The Chinese government retains the right to take further actions to safeguard the well-being of Chinese manufacturers, the ministry said.
The U.S. Department of Commerce has until Feb. 20 to make its final decision whether Chinese OTR tire subsidies exist. If it affirms them, the International Trade Commission will have until April 7 to decide whether U.S. OTR tire makers suffer material injury because of Chinese subsidies.