China says US ruling on Chinese tires in line with facts

BEIJING-- The latest US ruling to remove heavy duties on truck and bus tires imported from China was "in line with the objective facts," the Ministry of Commerce (MOC) said Thursday.

The US International Trade Commission (ITC) determined Wednesday that the tires from China did not materially injure or threaten to damage the US industry, and that no anti-dumping or countervailing duties would be imposed on those products.

The decision followed a previous ruling by the US Department of Commerce in January to slap anti-dumping duties of up to 22.57 percent and countervailing duties of up to 65.46 percent on certain China-made truck and bus tires.

Wang Hejun, head of the MOC's trade remedy and investigation bureau, appreciated the ITC's ruling, describing it as "objective and fair."

"We hope the two countries' tire industries strengthen dialogue and communication, effectively manage and control trade disputes, and maintain an open and fair trade environment for the good of the people of China and the US," he said.

The two countries' tire products were different from, and complementary to, each other, and Chinese tires met the growing demand in the United States, Wang noted.

US imports of truck and bus tires from China were worth about $1.5 billion in 2015, but fell to more than 1 billion dollars in the first 11 months last year, affected by the trade investigation, according to MOC data.

The case involved more than 100 exporters and 100,000 employees in China, and its result reflected Chinese firms' stronger awareness and capability of protecting their rights, said Wang.