Saudi Arabia Bans Firestones

NASHVILLE, Tenn.--Bridgestone/Firestone Inc. is reporting that the Saudi Arabian Standards Organization (SASO) has issued an internal notification prohibiting the import of Firestone tires into the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

The company had previously sold allegedly defective tires in the country prior to similar problems surfacing in the United States. Ford Motor Co. later recalled the Saudi Arabian tires following complaints over their performance. Firestone had blamed poor tire maintenance for the problems.

Firestone says it deserves another chance to market its tires in the country. “We feel the scope of this action is uncalled for and extreme given the voluntary worldwide recall we initiated,” the company said in a statement.

“We have notified the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) of this matter. In addition, we have had conversations with the United States Trade Representative (USTR) to express our concerns because it is our strong opinion that such a broad ban could not possibly be justified under the rules of the World Trade Organization (WTO), which Saudi Arabia is negotiating to join; under the U.S.-Saudi Treaty of Friendship, Commerce and Navigation; nor under certain sections (301) of the Trade Act of 1974.”

Congress is currently investigating Firestone and its executives over the tire problems, which the company had long denied--citing under-inflation as the key cause of the tire-related crashes.