Chinese group hires law firm to fight US duties on truck tires

Las Vegas – The China Rubber Industry Association (CRIA) has hired New York law firm Grunfeld, Desiderio, Lebowitz, Silverman and Klestadt LLP to try and convince the US International Trade Commission (ITC) that the US truck tire industry has not been injured by low-cost medium truck tires imported from China and as a result Chinese tire makers should not be slapped with higher duties.

The CRIA’s position is that the US tire industry has not been injured at all, said Max Schutzman, a partner in the law firm during an interview during the speciality equipment market association show in Las Vegas. To the contrary it maintains that the US industry has been doing quite well in its home market for truck and bus tires.

The ITC issued a preliminary determination earlier this year with four of six commissioners calling for higher duties. A final hearing on the duties is set for 24 Jan 2017 and the ITC is scheduled for a final vote on 22 Feb, Schutzman said.

CRIA is looking to mount a serious effort through testimony before the ITC to convince two additional commissioners that no harm has been done, overturning the ITC’s preliminary determination, Schutzman said.

The law firm has hired Capital Trade Inc., a provider of international trade consulting, litigation support and economic analysis in Washington DC, to review and synthesise the import information and financial data concerning the case and produce a report for presentation at the 24 Jan final hearing.

If that decision is affirmative, the ITC — a unit within the Commerce Department – will make a final ruling on material injury no later than 3 March.

Schutzman said the CRIA is convinced there has been no material injury to the US tire market by reason of imported Chinese truck and bus tires.

The Commerce Department has assessed an anti-dumping duty of 30.36% on all Chinese tire makers, and countervailing subsidy rates of 17.06% against Double Coin Holdings Ltd.; 23.38% against Guizhou Tyre Co. Ltd.; and 20.22% against all other Chinese truck/bus tire producers and exporters.