China questions US duties on Chinese truck, bus tires

Beijing, Jan 25
China on Wednesday questioned the US decision to levy heavy duties on the Chinese-made truck and bus tires, promising measures to defend the rights of domestic companies.

The comments came after the US Department of Commerce decided to slap anti-dumping duties of up to 22.57 per cent and countervailing duties of up to 65.46 per cent on certain truck and bus tires imported from China.

In response to the US decision, Ministry of Commerce official Wang Hejun criticised the American investigation, saying the probe had ignored facts.

Wang said the US move had harmed the interests of China's tire industry, and urged it to abide by the World Trade Organization rules and correct its mistakes.

US imports of truck and bus tires from China were worth about $1.5 billion in 2015, which fell to more than $1 billion in the first 11 months last year, affected by the investigation, according to the ministry.