Steelworkers Press The US For Trade Relief
在几乎各类美国制造企业都受到经济衰退和汽车销量大幅下降的冲击之际，美国联合钢铁工人工会(United Steelworkers)正试图利用一起轮胎进口案例作为突破口，要求奥巴马政府更严格地执行贸易法规，尤其是在涉及中国的时候。这家工会组织称，中国在2004年至2008年期间不公正地向美国市场倾销了大量轿车和卡车轮胎，导致美国轮胎厂倒闭，至少失去了5,000个工作岗位。该工会称，从中国的进口量在这4年期间增长了215%，而美国国内的产量则下降了25%。在美国国际贸易委员会(U.S. International Trade Commission)周二的听证会上，来自两党的10名国会成员代表美国联合钢铁工人工会作证，敦促该委员会和奥巴马总统向国内工业伸出援手。俄亥俄州民主党参议员布朗(Sherrod Brown)说，数据明确显示，美国工人正受到从中国进口的乘用车和轻型卡车轮胎大幅增长的打击。阿拉巴马州共和党众议员阿德霍尔特(Robert Aderholt)指出，B.F. Goodrich在该州的一家工厂共雇用了1,100人，但这家公司4月份宣布将关闭该工厂。约有十几家轮胎进口商和分销商（其中大部分的总部都在美国）在听证会上作证，称有必要进口轮胎。他们说，中国轮胎只是填补了美国轮胎生产商放弃生产利润率较低的低端产品留下的市场空缺。代表由7家公司组成的美国轮胎自由贸易联盟(American Coalition for Free Trade in Tires)的律师乔切姆(James Jochum)说，我们的企业被切断了供应，它们被迫寻找其它来源。联合钢铁工人工会表示，美国应该按照2005年从中国进口2,100万条轮胎的水平对其实施进口配额，在今后3年里每年增加5%。这家工会代表9个州13家轮胎厂的15,000名工人，这些工厂占美国轮胎业2008年产能的一半左右。该工会主席杰拉德(Leo Gerard)说，通过一个短暂的缓冲期，我们能为美国轮胎业和工人的未来打下一个可持续发展的基础。自2002年以来，美国国际贸易委员会在此前六次根据贸易法同一节内容提交的钢铁工人的诉求中有四次都要求采取补救措施。布什政府一直没有采取任何补救措施。这些诉求称，从中国进口的增加损害了美国国内制造商。预计这次国际贸易委员会将在7月向奥巴马提交报告，最终决定有望在9月份做出。轮胎之争只是中美贸易大战的组成部分。周二，美国贸易代表柯克(Ron Kirk)在美中贸易委员会(U.S.-China Business Council)发表讲话时说，奥巴马政府的目标是改善美国出口产品进入中国的便利程度。他说，美国将尽可能寻求通过对话解决贸易问题，但必要时将毫不犹豫地采取惩罚措施。柯克说，美国贸易代表打算采取更积极的步骤保证美国出口商的权益。他没有直接谈及来自中国的进口问题。Kris Maher相关阅读中国对美国进口钢材展开反倾销调查 2009-06-02美国钢铁业对中国提起反倾销诉讼 2009-04-09欧盟对中国产钢盘条征收反倾销税 2009-02-11美国商务部最终决定对从中国进口的电极征收反倾销税 2009-01-07
The United Steelworkers is trying to use a case involving tire imports as the centerpiece of its push for tougher enforcement of trade laws by the Obama administration, especially involving China, at a time when all types of U.S. manufacturing are reeling from the recession and a steep drop in car sales.The union alleges that China unfairly flooded the U.S. market with car and truck tires from 2004 to 2008, leading to closures at U.S. tire plants and the loss of at least 5,000 jobs. Chinese imports surged 215% during that four-year span, according to the union, while domestic production fell 25%.In a hearing Tuesday at the U.S. International Trade Commission, 10 members of Congress from both parties testified on behalf of the union and urged the commission and President Barack Obama to aid the domestic industry.'The data make clear that American workers are getting crushed by a surge in imports from passenger-car and light-truck tires from China,' said Sen. Sherrod Brown (D., Ohio). Rep. Robert Aderholt (R., Ala.) noted that a B.F. Goodrich plant in Opelika, Ala., employing 1,100, said in April that it would close.About a dozen tire importers and distributors, most of which are based in the U.S., testified at the hearing that the imports are necessary. They contend the Chinese tires simply filled a gap in the market that was created when U.S. tire producers shifted away from producing lower-priced tires, which have narrower profit margins.'Our guys were really cut off. They were forced to find other sources,' said James Jochum, an attorney representing a coalition of seven companies that has formed the American Coalition for Free Trade in Tires.The steelworkers union argued that the U.S. should implement an import quota on China of 21 million consumer tires a year, the 2005 level, with an increase of 5% in each of the next three years. The union represents 15,000 workers at 13 tire plants in nine states, which account for about half of the domestic industry's 2008 ouput capacity. 'With a short period of relief, we can start to build a sustainable foundation for the future of the American tire industry and its workers,' said Leo Gerard, the union's president.Since 2002, the trade commission has called for remedies in four out of the previous six petitions filed under the same section of trade law as the steelworkers' petition. The Bush administration didn't impose remedies in any of the cases, which had alleged that a surge in China imports had harmed domestic manufacturers. In the current case, the commission is expected to send its report to Mr. Obama in July, who would then be expected to make a final decision in September.The battle over tires is part of a larger tug-of-war taking place between the U.S. and China over trade. On Tuesday, U.S. Trade Representative Ron Kirk addressed the administration's goal of improving access in China for U.S. exports, in remarks before the U.S.-China Business Council. He said the U.S. would seek to resolve any trade issues through dialogue when possible, but wouldn't hesitate to take punitive measures if necessary.'USTR intends to move more aggressively to ensure the rights of the American exporters,' Mr. Kirk said. He didn't directly address imports from China.Kris Maher
The United Steelworkers is trying to use a case involving tire imports as the centerpiece of its push for tougher enforcement of trade laws by the Obama administration, especially involving China, at a time when all types of U.S. manufacturing are reeling from the recession and a steep drop in car sales.The union alleges that China unfairly flooded the U.S. market with car and truck tires from 2004 to 2008, leading to closures at U.S. tire plants and the loss of at least 5,000 jobs. Chinese imports surged 215% during that four-year span, according to the union, while domestic production fell 25%.In a hearing Tuesday at the U.S. International Trade Commission, 10 members of Congress from both parties testified on behalf of the union and urged the commission and President Barack Obama to aid the domestic industry.'The data make clear that American workers are getting crushed by a surge in imports from passenger-car and light-truck tires from China,' said Sen. Sherrod Brown (D., Ohio). Rep. Robert Aderholt (R., Ala.) noted that a B.F. Goodrich plant in Opelika, Ala., employing 1,100, said in April that it would close.About a dozen tire importers and distributors, most of which are based in the U.S., testified at the hearing that the imports are necessary. They contend the Chinese tires simply filled a gap in the market that was created when U.S. tire producers shifted away from producing lower-priced tires, which have narrower profit margins.'Our guys were really cut off. They were forced to find other sources,' said James Jochum, an attorney representing a coalition of seven companies that has formed the American Coalition for Free Trade in Tires.The steelworkers union argued that the U.S. should implement an import quota on China of 21 million consumer tires a year, the 2005 level, with an increase of 5% in each of the next three years. The union represents 15,000 workers at 13 tire plants in nine states, which account for about half of the domestic industry's 2008 ouput capacity. 'With a short period of relief, we can start to build a sustainable foundation for the future of the American tire industry and its workers,' said Leo Gerard, the union's president.Since 2002, the trade commission has called for remedies in four out of the previous six petitions filed under the same section of trade law as the steelworkers' petition. The Bush administration didn't impose remedies in any of the cases, which had alleged that a surge in China imports had harmed domestic manufacturers. In the current case, the commission is expected to send its report to Mr. Obama in July, who would then be expected to make a final decision in September.The battle over tires is part of a larger tug-of-war taking place between the U.S. and China over trade. On Tuesday, U.S. Trade Representative Ron Kirk addressed the administration's goal of improving access in China for U.S. exports, in remarks before the U.S.-China Business Council. He said the U.S. would seek to resolve any trade issues through dialogue when possible, but wouldn't hesitate to take punitive measures if necessary.'USTR intends to move more aggressively to ensure the rights of the American exporters,' Mr. Kirk said. He didn't directly address imports from China.Kris Maher