Tire lobby in US to stymie anti-dumping proposal

Chinese tire industry players are gearing up to challenge a special remedy proposal against tire exports to the United States, the fate of which rests with US President Barack Obama who is expected to take a stand on the proposed measure soon.

A nine-member team, including representatives from Chinese tire associations and companies, yesterday headed to the US for a week-long lobbying effort against the punitive measures that American authorities are persuading President Obama to slap on Chinese tire exports.

Although the delegation has no idea whether Obama would eventually object to the proposal made by the International Trade Commission (ITC), due on Sept 17, they said they would continue all efforts to produce evidence that Chinese exports do not hurt the American tire industry. They are also expected to try and persuade the US to stop using trade protectionist policies that unreasonably affect the Chinese industry.