Chinese Duties Now Effective

Effective Dec.1, importers of passenger and light truck tires from China are required to pay the 15.69% countervailing duties, according to the Commerce Department’s notice in the Federal Register.

The new duty is retroactive 90-days from the publication date of the Federal Register.

Three companies have been singled out by the Commerce Department to pay separate countervailing duties – Cooper Kunshan China Tire Co. Ltd., Giti Tire Fujian Co. Ltd. and Shandong Yongsheng Rubber Group Co. Ltd. Cooper is expected to pay a duty of 12.5%, Giti a duty of 17.69% and Shandong a duty of 81.29%.

According to the notice the Commerce Department will continue to evaluate the market for possible anti-dumping duties as well. The determination on those duties will be unveiled no later than April 6, 2015, unless the date is postponed, the notice said.

The Commerce Department will disclose to interested parties the calculations performed in connection with the preliminary determination within five days of its Federal Register notice.

The U.S. Customs and Border Protection is responsible for collecting all duties on imported tires, the notice stated.

Several tiremakers have responded to the preliminary determination made last week, read more here.

Edwin Goudswaard is now officially serving as the head of research and development at Continental Tires. He succeeds Dr. Boris Mergell who took over as head of the user experience business area at Continental Automotive, also on September 1, 2023.

Goudswaard began his career at Continental in 2006, shortly after completing his mechanical engineering studies, the company said. Following an international R&D trainee program, he worked in virtual development and product development for original equipment tires. Between 2013 and 2021, Goudswaard assumed various management roles in R&D and in the production facilities for two-wheeler and passenger car tires in Europe and Asia. In 2021, he was appointed head of the two-wheel tire business area. He was most recently responsible for Continental’s global research and development activities in the passenger car tire replacement business.