President Obama has placed tariffs of 35% on passenger and light truck tires from China, siding with the United Steelworkers Union and other labor groups, which had filed a complaint that surging imports were eliminating US manufacturing jobs. The duties will begin September 26 and last for three years, dropping 5% per year (i.e., they will decline to 30% the second year and 25% the third year). The tariffs were lower than those suggested by the International Trade Commission, which recommended tariffs of 55% the first year, 45% the second, and 35% the third. The new tariffs are in addition to an existing 4% duty on all Chinese passenger and light truck tires.
Bloomberg on the story.
The Washington Post on the story.
The Wall Street Journal on the story.
This is called leveling the playing field. Way past due. don’t worry about our debt to China. Remember when many countrys reniged on their world war debt to the USA?
Comment by leonard gunderson — September 13, 2009 @ 7:57 am