TIA Calls for end of Chinese tire tariff.
Press Release Summary:
It has been one year since President Obama signed order to impose punitive, 35% tariff on select passenger vehicle and light truck tires from People's Republic of China, and TIA is calling for either its end or for USITC to collect accurate, objective data on tariff's effects. TIA Executive VP Roy Littlefield, refuting parties who claim data exists that demonstrates success of tariffs, calls such data anecdotal and distorted and demands objective, accurate report.
Original Press Release:
On One-Year Anniversary of Chinese Tire Tariff, TIA Calls for End of Tariff, and for USITC to Collect Accurate Data
Bowie, MD - On the one-year anniversary of the President's signing of an order to impose a punitive, 35% tariff on certain passenger vehicle and light truck tires from the People's Republic of China, the Tire Industry Association (TIA), one of the leading global authorities on tires, is calling for the end of the tariff, or, in the alternative, for the United States International Trade Commission (USITC) to fulfill its obligation under section 421 of the Trade Act of 1974 to collect accurate, objective data on the tariff's effects. Under the provision, after six months, the President has the option to modify, reduce or terminate the relief that has been granted. The provision also clearly states that the USITC, " . . . upon the granting of relief under subsection (k) of this section, shall collect such data as is necessary to allow it to respond rapidly to a request by the President . . ."
"Certain parties with a clear agenda are claiming they have data that demonstrates the success of the tariffs. We know that most of this data is, in reality, anecdotal, and we believe they are also distorting other data by obscuring critical details," stated TIA Executive Vice President Roy Littlefield. He went on to say that, "TIA believes that if the President will not eliminate this punitive tariff, at the very least, his administration owes the tire industry an objective and accurate report that will specifically compare tire imports from China to tire imports from other Asian countries on a current-year versus previous-year basis, and to identify exactly which tire lines are now being manufactured by U.S. tire makers."
Paul Fiore, Director of Government and Business Relations for TIA, also stated that, "we have a compelling case to take to Congress, and we intend to keep the pressure on the USITC until we are comfortable that this data collection process is completed."
About TIA:
TIA is an international association representing all segments of the tire industry, including those that manufacture, repair, recycle, sell, service or use new or retreaded tires, and also those suppliers or individuals who furnish equipment, material or services to the industry. The Tire Industry Association (TIA) has a history that spans more than 80 years and includes several name changes. Originally known as the National Tire Dealers & Retreaders Association (NTDRA), the organization gave birth over the years to the American Retreaders Association (ARA) and the Tire Association of North America (TANA). ARA changed its name to the International Tire & Rubber Association (ITRA) and merged with TANA in 2002 to form the current Tire Industry Association (TIA), which now represents every interest in the tire industry. For more information, visit www.tireindustry.org, or call 800.876.8372.
