8.18China minister goes to Washington on tire case

China minister goes to Washington on tire case

 

http://autonews.gasgoo.com/auto-news/1011804/China-minister-goes-to-Washingt
on-on-tire-case.html

 

Shanghai, August 18 (Gasgoo.com) A Chinese deputy trade minister flew to
Washington yesterday to lobby U.S. administration officials against a
proposal to impose punitive duties of up to 55% on imports of Chinese tires,
media reported, citing the commence ministry's statement.

 

The Obama administration has until September to decide whether to levy the
duties, in the first of a growing list of trade issues with China, after the
U.S. International Trade Commission ruled in June that competition from
rapidly rising imports of Chinese tires was hurting American producers.

 

Chinese vice commerce minister Zhong Shan will argue that slapping duties on
Chinese exports would raise costs for U.S. auto manufacturers and consumers.
He will meet with U.S. departments including State, Treasury, Commerce and
the U.S. Trade Representative.

 

The duties, recommended by the U.S. ITC in late June, could reach up to 55%
in the first year, 45% in the second year and 35% in the third year. China
says its tire exports to the U.S. were worth $2.2 billion in 2008.

 

The United Steelworkers, the union that brought the tire case, says Chinese
exports to the United States more than tripled in 2004-08 to 41 million
tires a year. The union said that led to the loss of 5,100 American jobs.

 

Beijing has rejected the duties as a violation of World Trade Organization
free-trade principles. Another commerce official criticized the proposal
last week as protectionist, saying it would harm U.S.-Chinese trade.

 

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