Tariff benefitted tyre exporting countries, not the US – TIA

The now-expired US tariff on consumer tyres imported from China failed to save or add new tyre industry jobs in the US, the Tire Industry Association said on 27 September. Reporting the end of the tariffs, the association reiterated its opinion that “free and open markets with level playing fields are best for the consuming public and the local tyre dealership in providing the best price for the best product possible.”

The TIA statement highlighted a report by the Peterson Institute for International Economics that claimed approximately 1,200 American jobs that were saved as a result of the Chinese tyre tariffs but ended up mostly benefitting other tyre exporting countries first and American manufacturers second.

The statement also reminded readers that, when the tariff took effect in September 2009, association executive vice president Roy Littlefield said “the tyre manufacturers made the decision years ago to shift production of these lower-cost tyres out of the US. All this action will do is force the tyre manufacturers to shift production of these lower-cost tyres to other countries.” That is exactly what happened, added the TIA.