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Wikileaks: Diplomats Bemoaned US Tyre Tariff Decision

Company News, International News, News

While the majority of the 250,000 documents contained in the largest leak of government records in American history focus on diplomatic and political commentaries written by the US ambassadorial network, at least one of the wires published by the Wikileaks website sheds light on behind the scenes discussions on the Obama decision to impose import tariffs on Chinese-made tyres.

A document dated 29 September 2009 and classified as secret, reports that US deputy secretary of state James B Steinberg (Secretary of State Hilary Clinton’s chief adviser) discussed the tyre tariffs alongside policy objectives for Iran and North Korea with Chinese foreign minister He Yafei.

8th December 2010/by Tyrepress Editors

2010 Up 9 Points, But 2011 a Downer, RMA Says

The RMA is projecting a huge overall increase in tire shipments this year – by more than 9 per cent – thanks to sharp jumps in both the OE and replacement markets, reports Tire Review. But it will be more of the same in 2011, as growth projections fall to just 2 per cent for next year. According to its year-end projection, the RMA is calling for an increase of some 24 million tyres in total or a 9 per cent increase versus 2009 shipment results. Looking forward, the RMA sees a small 2 per cent year-to-year increase for 2011 thanks to continuing economic uncertainty.

2nd December 2010/by Tyrepress Editors

Zafco Achieves ISO Certification

United Arab Emirates-based Zafco, which supplies tyres domestically, as well as to the US, Europe, Africa, Asia Pacific and Australia, reports achieved ISO 9001:2008 certification after a positive review of its quality management systems. According to the company, this latest certification represents the enhanced commitment to quality and reliability that its customers expect.

27th October 2010/by Tyrepress Editors

US and China Both Claim WTO Victory in Tariff Dispute

International News, Legislation, News

The United States claimed victory in a recent trade spat with China over anti-dumping charges placed on imports pipes, tubes, OTR tyres and sacks. US Trade Representative (USTR) Ron Kirk told the AFP news agency that the World Trade Organisation (WTO) had broadly upheld Washington's right to place duties on goods from China that were unfairly subsidised: "This is a significant win for American workers and businesses affected by unfairly traded imports.”

Nevertheless a report produced by China’s Xinhua news agency suggests the People’s Republic would like to present the 22 October WTO ruling as falling in its favour. China welcomed the fact that the WTO found that the US imposition of anti-dumping and countervailing duties on four types of Chinese imports was inconsistent with WTO regulations, the Chinese Ministry of Commerce (MOC) said a day after the ruling was published.

27th October 2010/by Tyrepress Editors

Analysts Predict Michelin Will Invest in Chinese Tyre Production

Referring to Michelin’s recent surprise decision to raise 1.2 billion euros of fresh capital, financial analysts at Morgan Stanley have predicted that the company is planning to expand its Chinese tyre manufacturing base, making this operation “a crucial BRIC[k]in Michelin’s future.”

When Michelin announced its plans to raise fresh capital on 28 September the tyre maker did any indications of what it planned to do with the money. This led analysts to suggest that “China will be a major focus for Michelin.” They believe Michelin is looking for “a swift increase in Chinese capacity” from their current level of around 2-3 per cent of output.

26th October 2010/by Tyrepress Editors

ETRMA Pushes EU for Closer Monitoring of Tyre Imports

At its October 5 board meeting in Brussels, the European Tyre and Rubber Manufacturers’ Association determined and conveyed to the European Union authorities that a greater monitoring of tyre imports is necessary in order to guarantee high quality tyres for EU consumers, increased road safety and lower environmental impact. ETRMA members, which represent Europe’s tyre producers, also reaffirmed their commitment to a “long-term strategic compliance campaign, stressing the importance of the quality and maintenance of tyres.”

6th October 2010/by Tyrepress Editors

India to “Sort Out” Rubber, Tyre Duty Inequality

India’s government may be set to rectify the disparity between duties charged on natural rubber and imported tyres. The Press Trust of India reports that commerce secretary Dr Rahul Khullar told journalists on the sidelines of a Confederation of Indian Industry event to “give me a month's time, we are trying to sort out the problem of inverted duty structure."

14th September 2010/by Tyrepress Editors

Provide Accurate Data on US Tariffs or Scrap Them, says TIA

The Tire Industry Association is no fan of the US tariff on Chinese produced consumer tyres. The anniversary of the Obama administration’s implementation of the “punitive” tariff is at hand, and the TIA is marking the occasion by calling for an end to the tariff or the collection of accurate data regarding it. The association points out that the United States International Trade Commission is obliged under section 421 of the Trade Act of 1974 to collect accurate, objective data on the tariff's effects.

13th September 2010/by Tyrepress Editors

US Tariffs – Are They Paying Off?

The Alliance for American Manufacturing (AAM) represents a number of manufacturers and the United Steelworks union and holds the aim of strengthening manufacturing in the US, so it is no surprise the organisation views the Obama administration’s tariffs on consumer tyres from China as nothing less than a glowing success. On September 1 the AAM released a document, titled “Obama’s Bold Economic Move on Chinese Tire Imports is Paying Off”, in which it outlines the market’s reactions to the tariffs. The organisation puts forward a strong argument for their continuation – but are the tariffs really achieving their desired effect, or are they taking credit for other factors influencing the market?

10th September 2010/by Tyrepress Editors

Continental: Truck Tyre Buyers Have Been Price Sensitive

From Continental’s perspective, sales across the EU in the truck tyre replacement market are up 29 per cent versus the same timeframe last year, with the UK figure said to be up 5.5 per cent, a few percentage points less than other estimates. Raw materials are still increasing, with the knock-on effect of pushing tyre prices up. Supply is also expected to be tight in the second half, as tyre manufacturers are struggling to meet the increase in demand (and cope with the shortage of raw materials). “We are also seeing a high level of hire vehicle utilisation which could lead to vehicle shortages towards the end of the year,” company representatives told Tyres & Accessories recently.

31st August 2010/by Tyrepress Editors

US Business Group Urges Obama to Get Facts on China Tyre Tariff

Almost a year has passed since the United States imposed a tariff upon consumer tyres imported from China. This tariff, which in its first 12 months added 35 per cent to the existing four per cent import duty, has been applauded in some quarters. United Steelworkers international president Leo W. Gerard, for example, stated in an April 2010 letter to US President Obama that “the domestic industry is, in fact, continuing to make good progress in recovering from the near fatal blow caused by the market disruption from a surge in Chinese consumer tyre imports.” Yet such opinions are not universal. As the tariff’s first anniversary approaches, the US-China Business Council (USCBC) has also drafted its own letter to the President, in which it states it “has found no evidence that the tariffs on low-end Chinese tyres have had a positive effect on American jobs, and we suspect the tariffs have had an overall negative economic impact on American consumers.”

26th August 2010/by Tyrepress Editors

CGS Tyres in US Production Plant Talks

Czech tyremaker CGS Tyres has announced that it is currently in discussions with regard to opening tyre production plant in Charles City, located in Iowa, USA. The talks are sufficiently advanced for the firm to announce that, on 31 August, CGS Tyres is expected to sign investment and incentive agreements at the Farm Progress Show in Boone. According to the company, CGS Tyres plans to expand the Charles City plant in three stages with production to start in January 2012.

“Iowa is central to our North American strategy,” said Jaroslav Čechura, the CEO of Mitas, a CGS Tyres group member: “We are expanding our production capacity, and we will provide the U.S. farmers with U.S.-made Mitas and Continental tyres.”

21st July 2010/by Tyrepress Editors

New Trademaster Brake Testers

The Trade Group has launched the Trademaster T5000 series of Brake Testers; they maintain this provides a step change in technology which, combined with the proven reliability, will deliver significant operational benefits to any MOT station

15th July 2010/by Tyrepress Editors

Anti-Dumping Pressure Mounts on Chinese Tyre Makers

Editorial/Comment, International News

While most of the rainbow nation was preparing to welcome people from far and wide to the first World Cup on African turf, the country’s legal eagles were deliberating over whether or not to kick certain Chinese tyres out of the country with an anti-dumping investigation. On 4 June 2010 the South African press reported that the High Court of Pretoria’s Judge Willie Hartzenberg set aside an earlier ruling made in 2007 by the Trade and Industry Ministry (Itac), to terminate anti-dumping probes against Chinese tyre exporters. He further ordered that (Itac) complete an anti-dumping investigation within four months. The judgement was duly lauded as bringing "fair competition" to the tyre manufacturing industry by those who brought the case, namely Bridgestone South Africa, Continental Tyre South Africa, Dunlop Tyres International and Goodyear Tyre & Rubber Holdings through their representative body South African Tyre Manufacturers Conference.

Whether or not the Chinese tyre imports in question can accurately be described as dumping – and it would be prudent to let the courts decide that – the ruling is another sign that products manufactured in the People’s Republic are not the quick and easy sell they once were. As far as tyres are concerned, the combination of increasing natural rubber, oil and steel input prices, combined with an unstable shipping cost context and added to the increasingly inhospitable international trade climate mean the latest decision in South Africa may force some Chinese factories to rethink either the delivery strategy or destinations of their tyres.

7th July 2010/by Tyrepress Editors

CGS Launches New Crane Tyre, Promotes OTR Products

CGS Tyres, which produces Mitas, Cultor and Continental branded OTR and agricultural tyres at factories in the Czech Republic and Serbia, used this year's Bauma trade fair to launch a new specialist crane tyre and promote is relatively new handful OTR line.

At the centre of the company’s efforts was the launch of new Mitas branded CR-01 tyre for mobile cranes. This non-directional tread pattern comes in 445/95 R25 and is designed to reduce tyre noise when used on the road. The CR-01 is homologated according to ECE R54. According to the company, the tyre ensures reduction of fuel consumption (thanks to lower rolling resistance characteristics) and has “higher benefits than most of the tyre competitors in this segment.”

5th July 2010/by Tyrepress Editors