Obama Approves Tariffs on Chinese Tires

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.