Obama Slaps Stiff Tariff on Chinese Tires

China threatens retaliation after president moves to protect US tire industry

By Rob Quinn, Newser Staff

Posted Sep 12, 2009 6:01 AM CDT

(Newser) – President Obama has imposed tough new tariffs on the import of Chinese-made tires, the Wall Street Journal reports. The 35% import tariff comes in response to industry complaints that Chinese-made tires are flooding the US, jeopardizing thousands of jobs. China attacked the decision, saying it violated trade rules, and threatened retaliation for what it labeled "a serious act of trade protectionism."

Administration officials said the US Trade Commission had determined that China—which has tripled its tire exports to the US since 2004—was violating its obligations under trade agreements. Obama "decided to remedy the clear disruption to the US tire industry based on the facts and the law in this case," White House spokesman Robert Gibbs said. Lawyers expect the move to unleash a surge of requests from other industries for temporary protection from Chinese imports.

[Images (2)]

[Quotes (1)]

A Chinese worker moves large tires at an assembly line for buses made by Chinese auto manufacturer Foton Motor Group in Beijing, China yesterday. (AP Photo/Ng Han Guan)

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COMMENTS

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Showing 3 of 7 comments

Nelstorm

Sep 14, 2009 8:35 AM CDT

My 'World Politics' professor asked if anyone knew what the most recent development between the US and China was the day after I read this. He thinks I'm a genius now. Thank you Newser.

BlueAyez

Sep 12, 2009 7:11 AM CDT

27 years too late. The time to set limits would have been when Nixon made the first trade deals. It might have been the saving grace for American industry.

Derni

Sep 12, 2009 6:32 AM CDT

China onws us-so what happens when...??? China is number 1-they are ahead of us in alternative energy development..need I say any more--our only hope-global warming-we should have the last food and drinking watr left-so every other country will be coming our way..anothr war

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Money • Politics • US • World

China • imports • tariffs • protectionism • World Trade Organization. • Chinese exports • tires

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Obama Slaps Stiff Tariff on Chinese Tires