When is a tariff-able tyre not subject to an import tariff? When there are exceptions. With the latest round of US tyre import tariffs aimed squarely at imports of Chinese-produced tyres, it is useful to know what isn’t covered and why.

Following the news that the preliminary ruling is effective 1 December 2014 and retroactive for 90 days prior to this date, further details of what is and what isn’t covered by the rules have emerged. But first a couple of clarifications. There are two categories of import duties that the US government has and is deliberating over. Details of the first – countervailing duties – have already been reported and preliminarily decided upon. All things being equal, the final verdict for these will be issued “no later than 6 April 2015”. Within 45 days after this, the US International Trade Commission will make its own decision about what anti-dumping import tariffs to impose. Therefore total tariffs could be very substantial.