WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Sen. Sherrod Brown (D-OH) commended the U.S. Department of Commerce’s (DOC) decision to enforce preliminary dumping duties on Chinese tire imports. In Sept. 2014, Brown urged DOC Secretary Penny Pritzker to fully investigate the antidumping (AD) and countervailing duties (CVD) petitions filed by the United Steelworkers (USW) against passenger vehicle and light truck (PVLT) tires from China.

“When our trading partners dump their exports in U.S. markets, it’s not competing, it’s cheating,” Brown said. “That’s why it’s so important that we enforce trade law to ensure American workers and industry can compete globally.”

In recent years, Chinese tire imports have doubled, threatening American industry jobs and competitiveness. USW filed both AD and CVD petitions against Chinese PVLT tires in June. In July, the U.S. International Trade Commission (USITC) preliminarily found a reasonable indication that the domestic tire industry has been injured by Chinese tires. In November 2014, DOC found significant CVD margins on subsidized Chinese imports. The final determination in the AD case is expected April 6, 2015.

Brown is fighting to level the playing field for American workers and businesses. Following efforts by Brown, the Administration imposed tariffs on Chinese PVLT between 2009 and 2011. This action was in response to a surge in Chinese PVLT imports to the U.S. market. But these tariffs expired in September 2012, and U.S. jobs are again at risk. While Chinese tire imports now account for 18 percent of the U.S. market – more than double their share in 2011 – the domestic industry’s share dropped to 40 percent. Further, the price of Chinese PVLT tires is undercutting American-made tires by margins of 12 to 40 percent. To prevent further harm to American manufacturers, Brown called on the Administration to again take action to ensure American workers and businesses have a level playing field on which to compete.

Last year, Brown introduced legislation that would improve the ability of the U.S. to crack down on unfair foreign competition resulting from violations of trade law. The Leveling the Playing Field Act would restore strength to antidumping and countervailing laws used by American companies by codifying existing Commerce Department practices and overturning erroneous court decisions that curtail the agency’s authority.

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