WASHINGTON (July 14, 2009)—The International Trade Commission placed a public version of a report on Chinese Tire Imports on its Web site July 14.
ITC members agree that imports of Chinese passenger and light truck tires have increased sharply over the last few years, but they differed sharply on whether increased Chinese imports caused injury to the U.S. tire industry.
At least 80 percent of the tire makers, importers and purchasers queried by the ITC said U.S.- and Chinese-made tires are “always” or “frequently” used interchangeably, demonstrating that they compete in the U.S. market, the majority of commissioners noted in the agency report sent July 9 to President Obama and the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative.
But the minority noted that tire imports from countries other than China, though decreasing between 2004 and 2008, still accounted for two-thirds of the tires imported to the U.S. in 2008. or quotas against Chinese tire makers under Section 421 of the Trade Act.