Titan supports ITC's announcement on Chinese OTR tyre makers

Tire Business staff report

Washington, DC - The US International Trade Commission has affirmed that the US off-the-road (OTR) tyre industry has suffered material injury because of sales of Chinese OTR tyres in the US market at less than fair value, according to the ITC Web site.

No further details were immediately available, although the agency said it would release further details.

Based on complaints from Titan Tire Corp. and the United Steelworkers, the ITC made a preliminary decision in August 2007 that Chinese OTR tyre imports were causing material injury to US producers. The US Department of Commerce later determined that Chinese OTR tyre makers owed anti-dumping duties to the US government of up to 210.48 percent and countervailing duties ranging from 2.45 to 14 percent.

Following the ITC announcement Maurice Taylor Jr., chairman and ceo of parent company of Titan Tire Corp., Titan International Inc., voiced his support.

“Today's decision is an exciting outcome for working men and women across the country. It proves that many people are hurt by unfair trade practices, and shows that our trade remedy laws are effective in combating unfair foreign trade practices for US industry and its workers. A level playing field has been restored in our OTR tyre market, and the harm caused to the US industry by Chinese producers will now hopefully be corrected," said Taylor in a 15 August company statement.

Titan also stated that, “final anti-dumping and countervailing duty orders on these OTR tire imports from China will be issued by the Department of Commerce (DOC). The DOC will require the posting of cash deposits equal to the dumping and subsidisation found for individual companies.

"I am glad that the system has worked and the Chinese are no longer permitted to flood the US market with dumped and subsidised OTR tyres," Taylor concluded.

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Press release from Tire Business

Press release from Titan International Inc