A new step in the fight for trade liberalization
22 june 2012
Several European tire manufacturing companies have decided to unite in an association called LETA (European Association of Liberal Traders), whose goal is to "protect the freedom of tire trade in the European Union and beyond, as well as preserve and protect the values expressed in the Charter of Human Rights."
The headquarters of the new organization will be located in Milan, but it is noted that any citizen of another European country can also become a member.
Fabrizio Baldizzone was elected president of the association. He stated that its main goal is to fight against manufacturers who use their dominant position in the tire market to control tire prices, which are far from real. These manufacturers also intimidate tire traders. Now the latter have the opportunity to become members of LETA as well, in order to minimize the risk of becoming victims of unfair actions by tire suppliers.
Fabrizio Baldizzone is confident that tire traders should unite around this idea and counter the abuse of power. It is also important that the association guarantees anonymity to all its members.
LETA states that the idea of creating an association is inspired by the principles of the European Union, which include the guarantee of freedom of movement of people, goods, and capital in the member states of the European Community. This principle works in the European Union, but if we talk specifically about tire trade, then "the situation is the same as sixty years ago, or even in the Middle Ages," the organization is sure. And the main task is to rein in companies that have imagined themselves as "barons in their own possessions," monopolists in the tire market, and legally threaten companies that import and export tires outside the European Economic Area.
LETA does not specifically mention which manufacturers are causing concern to the association, but among the most likely ones, Googyear and Dunlop are named. Representatives of the company responded to this with a statement that the company is only protecting its trademarks and intellectual property from illegal use. However, the LETA association is only starting its activities, and it is not excluded that many other tire manufacturers will soon be affected by it.
The headquarters of the new organization will be located in Milan, but it is noted that any citizen of another European country can also become a member.
Fabrizio Baldizzone was elected president of the association. He stated that its main goal is to fight against manufacturers who use their dominant position in the tire market to control tire prices, which are far from real. These manufacturers also intimidate tire traders. Now the latter have the opportunity to become members of LETA as well, in order to minimize the risk of becoming victims of unfair actions by tire suppliers.
Fabrizio Baldizzone is confident that tire traders should unite around this idea and counter the abuse of power. It is also important that the association guarantees anonymity to all its members.
LETA states that the idea of creating an association is inspired by the principles of the European Union, which include the guarantee of freedom of movement of people, goods, and capital in the member states of the European Community. This principle works in the European Union, but if we talk specifically about tire trade, then "the situation is the same as sixty years ago, or even in the Middle Ages," the organization is sure. And the main task is to rein in companies that have imagined themselves as "barons in their own possessions," monopolists in the tire market, and legally threaten companies that import and export tires outside the European Economic Area.
LETA does not specifically mention which manufacturers are causing concern to the association, but among the most likely ones, Googyear and Dunlop are named. Representatives of the company responded to this with a statement that the company is only protecting its trademarks and intellectual property from illegal use. However, the LETA association is only starting its activities, and it is not excluded that many other tire manufacturers will soon be affected by it.