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Aderholt Testifies On Behalf Of Alabama Tire Industry

June 2, 2009

Contact: Darrell “DJ” Jordan
(202) 225-4876

CONGRESSMAN ADERHOLT TESTIFIES AT U.S. INTERNATIONAL TRADE COMMISSION HEARING ON BEHALF OF ALABAMA TIRE INDUSTRY

Aderholt Supports Tire Manufacturing International Trade Restrictions

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Congressman Robert Aderholt (Haleyville) presented testimony today before the U.S. International Trade Commission on behalf of the Alabama tire industry. The Commission heard arguments from Rep. Aderholt and nine other U.S. Senators & Congressmen about a major trade case that seeks to stem the flood of imported consumer tires from China.

During the hearing, Rep. Aderholt expressed his support for China-specific safeguards being considered under a United Steelworkers Section 421 petition of the Trade Act of 1974. The United Steelworkers (USW) filed the petition on April 20th stating that the current trade agreement with China on passenger vehicle and light truck tires is not being followed by China.

“The Congressional district I represent is home to the Goodyear Tire and Rubber Company…,” said Rep. Aderholt during the hearing. “Over the past several years, this plant and the entire domestic tire industry have faced growing competition from imports of passenger and light truck tires from countries whose governments do not follow the same level of labor, environmental, and trade laws as is true for manufacturers in the United States.”

Rep. Aderholt continued, “U.S. workers, including many Alabamians, face the prospect of job losses if the current trade laws are not enforced. I am hopeful that this Administration and other trade representatives will look at the facts and propose a prompt solution. I urge you to rule favorably on this petition and to adopt a remedy that will strengthen America’s tire manufacturing industry and ensure that U.S. workers continue to produce quality tires for generations to come.”

According to the USW petition, more than 5,100 domestic workers have been eliminated at four tire plants closed in the U.S. since 2004. About 3,000 more jobs are slated to be lost by year’s end as three more plants close or stop production of passenger and light truck tires.

The U.S. International Trade Commission will consider today’s testimonies before voting on its trade restriction recommendations on June 29th, and then deliver a trade report on China imports to President Obama by July 9th. The President’s decision on a remedy is planned for mid-September.

The United States International Trade Commission is an independent, non-partisan, quasi-judicial, federal agency of the United States that provides trade expertise to both the legislative and executive branches. Further, the agency determines the impact of imports on U.S. industries and directs actions against certain unfair trade practices, such as dumping, patent, trademark, and copyright infringement.

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