The United Steelworkers (USW) today updated the White House on this year’s sharp spike of accelerating China tire imports, pending the President’s decision due Sept. 17 on the relief to be  provided under a Section 421 safeguard case.

According to preliminary government data for August, there’s been an extraordinary increase of passenger and light truck tire imports into the U.S. of 57 percent when compared to this year’s first four months leading up to the April petition filing. USW International President Leo W. Gerard testified last month that China tire imports had swelled in July to more than 42 percent over the same period from January to April.

“We fear that the ITC’s recommended relief will be inadequate for this huge spike of imports, and that September will be even worse. Ever since the ITC’s June finding of market disruption, we have watched with alarm as the Chinese have cranked up their exports of tires to beat the date any remedy is applied ... more