Posted on 09/21/2009 7:58:19 AM PDT by Shellybenoit
Last week, the POTUS announced that it would impose a tariff of 35 percent on $1.8 billion of automobile tires imports from China, acting on a petition from one of his major constituencies, Big Labor (the United Steelworkers union).
As you may expect china did not react pleasantly. Zhou Wenzhong, China’s ambassador to the U.S., warned that President Barack Obama’s decision to impose tariffs on Chinese tire imports may set a “dangerous precedent” as other industries ask for protection. Zhou said U.S. textile and steel producers may file similar so-called safeguard complaints against Chinese exporters, testing Obama’s commitment to avoid a trade war.
“It will set a very dangerous precedent,” the ambassador told reporters today in Washington. “We hope the relevant agencies will draw a lesson from the many, many comments here in the U.S. and around the world” criticizing the tire tariffs.
Beside being a major trading partner, China is also the biggest holder of United States debt, and with the continued policies of the Obama administration, we will need them to buy a lot more of that debt. Obama might want to consider keeping them happy.
The Presidential tariff decision will hurt Americans more than anyone, because on top of any negative reaction from China, we will have to pay higher costs for tires:
(Excerpt) Read more at yidwithlid.blogspot.com ...
A pure gift to the unions. Even the tire companies were against this.
Why they are even allowed on our roads is a mystery
who inturn pass on their costs to who?........
Barry probably intends to give the Chinese his Joe The Plumber reply. Yeah Barry, just tell ‘em it’s OK because you’re going to spread those tax dollars around...
It would make me nervous to drive on Chicom trash tires.
I wouldn’t be sad to see a lot fewer slave labor made tires coming into the country.
Call a WHAAAHmbulance...
Buy American.
Considering the two huge recalls since 2002 for tread separation. Never trust a communist
It should be obvious to everyone by now the so-called “free traders” are even MORE destructive than unions.
Let them whine.
Nobody cares anymore.
BUY AMERICAN.
One thing that's for sure -- they ain't going to be made here in the U.S.
http://www.consumeraffairs.com/news04/2007/08/china_tires05.html
Does Michelin (OK it’s French, but they make high quality tires and France also makes good wines and skis) make any tires in Asia?
Isn’t there anything Obama can’t screw up?.
From 2007 NYT
http://www.nytimes.com/2007/06/26/business/worldbusiness/26tire.html
Chinese Tires Are Ordered Recalled
By ANDREW MARTIN
Published: June 26, 2007
Federal officials have told a small New Jersey importer to recall 450,000 radial tires for pickup trucks, sport utility vehicles and vans after the company disclosed that its Chinese manufacturer had stopped including a safety feature that prevented the tires from separating.
Tread separation is the same defect that led to the recall of millions of Firestone tires in 2000. At the time, tire failure was linked to an increased risk of rollover of light trucks and S.U.V.’s.
Illegal Mexican drivers? The Kennedy family?
They shouldn't be allowed on American roads, agreed.
But I guess you mean Chinese tires.
If - if - the tires are unsafe then they should of course be banned. And IIRC there have been several product recalls on Chinese tires.
But no one bans unsafe tires by putting a 35% tariff on them, any more than they would put a 35% tariff on asbestos-stuffed Teddybears. This tax hike isn't a ban: it's a sop to Unions and a tax on drivers.
You are free to buy American. I would prefer the choice. I prefer to buy from foreign suppliers than domestic union thugs. If Chineses tires are unsafe, our regulatory system, legal system, and consumer orientation will penalize Chinese producers. Foreign competition has brought many benefits to consumers and pain to union thugs.
No, nothing I can think of. This was just the first salvo in a developing trade war with the largest buyers of our debt!!!Will this increase/save,as they like to say, American jobs? Not in the long run unless we exclude imports from nations other than China, thereby expanding the trade war and even then,to “preserve” those jobs higher costs(inflationary) will be imposed on the American consumer. Think what a set of 4 new ones are going to cost with the embargo tax and the cost from cap and tax get added into the price. Sure, no direct income taxes (liar)but government imposed costs on everything else. BO would screw up a 1 car funeral.
“Don’t tread on me!”
Shoddy labor is shoddy labor, it happens here, too... Except in this case the Unions get Obama to bail their shoddy work out.
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