The Commerce Department made its ruling on Feb. 6.
According to the USW, the Commerce Department investigated four individual Chinese producers, which received duty rates ranging from 11% to 52%. Other companies receiving separate rates are subject to a margin that reflects the weighted average of these individual rates, or 25%. For companies not entitled to individual rates, the country-wide rate of 210% will be applied.
All importers of OTR and ag tires from China will have to post a bond or cash deposit equal to the margin amounts pending the final determination this June, the USW said.
The Commerce Department will continue holding hearings, conducting verifications of information, and the International Trade Commission will also investigate the issue of injury and reach a determination on that issue later.
“Today’s decision will help to restore conditions of fair trade to the U.S. market for OTR tires by requiring Chinese imports to be priced fairly,” said Morry Taylor, Titan’s chairman and CEO. “For far too long, U.S. producers of OTR tires such as Titan and our workers have had to compete against Chinese tires sold at dumped prices, which is illegal. Now, importers and producers will have to compete on the same level field as other producers.”
According to Titan, the following companies were listed under the Commerce Department ruling: Guizhou Tyre Co., Guizhou Advance Rubber, Hebei Starbright Tire Co., Tianjin United Tire & Rubber International Co., Xuzhou Xugong Tyre Co., Aeolus Tyre Co., Double Coin Holdings, Double Coin Group Rugao Tyre Co., Double Coin Group Shanghai Donghai Tyre Co., Double Happiness Tyre Industries Corp., Jiangsu Feichi Co., Oriental Tyre Technology, Shandong Taishan Tyre Co., Xu Zhou Xugong Tyres Co., Laizhou Xiongying Rubber Industry Co., Midland Off the Road Tire Co., Midland Specialty Tire Co., Xuzhou Hanbang Tyres Co., Shandong Xingda Tyre Co., Shandong Xingyuan International Trade Co., Shandong Xingyuan Rubber Co., Qingdao Eastern Industrial Group Co., Qingdao Qihang Tyre Co., Qingdao Shuanghe Tyre Co., Qingdao Yellowsea Tyre Factory, Shandong Zhentai Tyre Co., Qingdao Hengda Tyres Co., Shifeng Double-Star Tire Co., Weifang Longtai Tyre Co., Qingdao Qinghang Tyre Co., Qingdao Qizhou Rubber Co., Tenzhou Broncho Tyre Co., Shandong Huitong Tyre Co., Shandong Jinyu Tyre Co., Shandong Wanda Boto Tyre Co., Xingyuan Tyre Group Co., Triangle Tyre Co., Wendeng Sanfeng Tyre Co. and Zhaoyuan Leo Rubber Co.
“Very few end users know that the tires they buy are Chinese tires, because the tires carry English names with a very small Made in China nameplate,” said Taylor. “Titan will compete with anyone so long as it’s fair competition, but U.S. companies and their employees will lose if they must compete with government subsidies and dumping, unless the U.S. government enforces our trade laws. Nearly 30 companies plus China government-owned factories will now hopefully get the message that some of us Americans don’t like to be poked. If you do, we’ll poke back.”
“Today’s decision will help level the playing field for U.S. workers by requiring Chinese tire imports to be priced fairly,” said USW President Leo Gerard. “This case shows the importance of vigorous enforcement of our trade laws as a first line of defense against unfair trade practices that harm American industries and jobs.”
“The USW will continue to be actively engaged in this on-going investigation to ensure final margins accurately reflect the full scope of dumping that is occurring,” said Gerard. “We’ll be pushing China and its tire producers to cooperate with the investigation and asking the Commerce Department to fully and fairly enforce the law against dumped imports.” (Tire Review/Akron)
