US calls for limiting tire imports

In the past two years, nine tire manufacturing plants in the United States have announced closures, resulting in over 7,000 job losses, and the American tire industry is in crisis, necessitating immediate measures to restrict imports, according to a letter sent by the influential United Steelworkers union (USW) to U.S. Trade Representative Jamison Greer.

It was the USW that previously initiated an investigation leading to additional tariffs on tire imports from China and a sharp decline in their shipments to the U.S. market. However, in recent years, Chinese manufacturers have adapted by opening numerous overseas plants to circumvent trade barriers. According to union data, tire production in the U.S. has declined by approximately 40% since 2000, warranting a new investigation to determine whether the growing tire imports are causing serious harm to the domestic industry.

According to USW International President Roxanne Brown, the American tire sector is suffering "catastrophic and widespread losses, and immediate action is needed to restore domestic production."

"The sharp rise in imports threatens our economic and national security," she stated, adding that the problems affect not only the transportation sector but also mining and agriculture.

"We urge the U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) to take action that will help strengthen the national industrial base," she emphasized.