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US tire imports ruling fails to tally with facts: ministry

(Xinhua)
Updated: 2009-07-18 10:50

China's Ministry of Commerce said Friday that the ruling of the United States International Trade Commission (ITC) against Chinese tire imports was "not consistent with facts".

"The ruling of the US ITC on July 14 lacks objective evidence," said the Bureau of Fair Trade for Imports and Exports under the ministry in a statement Friday on its website.

Members of the US ITC suggested that the United States should impose 35 to 55 percent duties over next three years on certain Chinese passenger vehicle and light truck tires "to prevent or remedy the market disruption."

The imports of such products would cause or threaten to cause market disruption to the US domestic producers of like or competitive products, the said.

The United Steel, Paper and Forestry, Rubber, Manufacturing, Energy, Allied Industrial and Service Workers International Union (USW) filed the complaint in April arguing the imports had cost thousands of United States jobs and wanted the government to set a ceiling on Chinese tire imports.

Related readings:  US tire duties protectionist, say experts  China regrets US rule on tire imports  Tire makers fight dumping claims  Tire makers feel deflated

"Some American tire manufacturers closed their plants in recent years, because they have voluntarily given up the low-end market. They suffered losses since 2008 due to the adverse effects of the financial crisis, and the blame should not be put on Chinese tire imports," said the statement.

The Ministry of Commerce said it hoped the Office of the United States Trade Representative would advise President Barack Obama to desist from taking corrective measures on the issue.

The tariff remedy plan on Chinese-made tires was not conducive to the development of the US tire industry and would harm the interests of American tire consumers, said the statement.

The information and analysis of the ITC, a semi-judicial federal agency, are provided to the US President, the Office of the United States Trade Representative and Congress.

The USW said China exported nearly 46 million consumer tires with a value of more than $1.7 billion to the US last year, making it the largest source of consumer tire imports.