MY ETT News » Tariffs

ATA, Farm Groups Welcome U.S.-Mexico Cross-Border Trucking Agreement

Rhonda Flathman — Mon, 11 Jul 2011 20:44:29 +0000

Even as some lobbying groups have voiced their criticism about the U.S.-Mexico cross-border trucking agreement, more and more have expressed their support. In addition to the American Trucking Assns. (ATA), several farm products groups were pleased that lifting the retaliatory tariffs as part of the agreement could help boost exports. Both the American Frozen Food Institute and the International Dairy Foods Association said the agreement will help make up lost jobs and lost revenue because of the excessive tariffs placed on American agricultural products.

American Trucking Associations and several agricultural organizations said they welcomed the cross-border trucking agreement signed between the United States and Mexico on Wednesday.

ATA President Bill Graves said the group “welcomes this latest step in improving the efficiency of trucking and trade at our southern border. By signing this historic agreement, the U.S. and Mexico have laid the groundwork for continued economic growth on both sides of the border.”

He added that “Mexican fleets participating in the program will be bound by the same rules and regulations applicable to American carriers, and we are pleased that the agreement allows for U.S. carriers to compete in Mexico.”

Click here to visit Transport Topics and read the complete story.

Obama Approves Tariffs on Chinese Tires

Rhonda Flathman — Wed, 16 Sep 2009 19:03:03 +0000

Tariffs on car and light truck tired from China will carry an additional 35 percent charge, after President Obama approved the action yesterday. In their first year levied, the tariff will be 35 percent and dropping by 5 percent each of the next two years. With Chinese imports more than tripling in a four-year span, the U.S. International Trade Commission (ITC) recommended the hike, concluding from its investigation that jobs in the states were threatened. Heavy-duty commercial tires are unaffected by the additional tariffs, as the ITC received no complaints related to them.

President Obama has approved an increase on the tariff charged on car and light truck tires imported from China, the Associated Press reported.

The U.S. International Trade Commission recommended the tariffs after investigating a complaint from the United Steelworkers.

The investigation found that Chinese tire imports more than tripled between 2004 and 2008, threatening U.S. jobs, an ITC spokesperson told Transport Topics last week, before Obama approved the tariffs.

The tariffs enacted Friday do not apply to heavy-duty commercial tires, ITC said, because the agency did not receive a complaint related to them.

Chinese officials responded by challenging the tariffs in a case before the World Trade Organization Monday, AP said. China also said it would investigate chicken and car product imports into China, which officials believe may be receiving government subsidies, AP said.

Tires from China usually have a 4% tariff, but Obama’s action puts an addition tariff of 35% on the tires for the first year, 30% for the second year and 25% for the third year.

[source - ttnews.com]

Obama to Decide Next Week on Chinese Tire Tariffs

Rhonda Flathman — Mon, 14 Sep 2009 17:22:54 +0000

With a double-digit increase in U.S. market share in just five years, tires imported from China may carry higher tariffs. A decision is expected from the White House on whether that 55 percent import tariff will be imposed. Based on legislation passed in 2000, such protections can be levied on Chinese imports if their higher demand hurts a U.S. industry. China agreed to the provision as a member of the World Trade Organization.

The Obama administration will decide this week whether to put a 55% import tariff on imported Chinese tires, which are gaining a growing share of the U.S. market, the Washington Post reported Tuesday.

Chinese tire market share has risen to 17% in the United States, up from just 5% five years ago, the paper said in a front-page story.

U.S. tire makers such as Cooper Tire and Rubber Co. have closed domestic plants, including one in Albany, Ga., even as the company has supported and trained workers in China for imports, the Post said.

Congress passed legislation in 2000 that allows tariffs and other protections if a surge in Chinese imports damages a U.S. industry, and China agreed to the provision while negotiating to join the World Trade Organization, the Post said.

But most U.S. tire companies, and Chinese government officials, oppose the tariffs as a barrier to free trade. Similar tariffs had been rejected by the Bush administration four times, the story said.

[source - ttnews.com]