50+ registered to comment at ITC hearing on OTR imports

WASHINGTON (Jan. 28, 2016) — The U.S. International Trade Commission's (ITC) Jan. 29  conference to gather opinion on the pending antidumping and countervailing duties action against pneumatic off-the-road tire imports from China, India and Sri Lanka portends to be a busy affair, as more than 50 parties — including 11 Indian tire makers — have asked to be included.

The meeting, scheduled to start at 9:30 a.m. at ITC headquarters, will address concerns raised by Titan Tire International Inc. and the United Steelworkers (USW).

Parties supporting or opposing the imposition of duties will each collectively be given one hour to make oral presentations, the ITC said in its meeting notice several weeks ago.

Non-parties to the investigations may request permission to make short statements germane to the investigations, according to the agency.

The list of parties that have contacted the ITC also includes the government of Sri Lanka and India's Automotive Tyre Manufacturers Association as well as U.S. manufacturers Bridgestone Americas, Goodyear, Michelin North America Inc. and Specialty Tires of America Inc.

According to the preliminary agenda, representatives of Titan International and the USW will present in support of the petition, while representatives of ATC Tires Pvt. Ltd./Alliance Tire America; BKT Tires Inc.; Camso USA/Camso Loadstar (Pvt.) Ltd.; and Speedway Rubber Co. will present in opposition. 

Among those companies that have notified the ITC of their intention to submit comments or statements are:

• American Omni Trading Co. L.L.C. — Importer/ wholesale distributor
• American Pacific Industries Inc. — Importer/wholesale distributor
• Apollo Vredestein USA Inc., Apollo Tyres Ltd. – Indian tire manufacturer
• ATC Tires Pvt. Ltd. India – Indian tire manufacturer
• Automotive Tyre Manufacturers Association – India's trade association of tire manufacturers
• Blackstone OTR L.L.C. — Importer/distributor
• Bridgestone Americas Tire Operations L.L.C. — U.S.-based tire maker
• Caribbean Rubber Corp. — Puerto Rico-based importer/distributor
• CEAT Ltd. – Indian tire manufacturer
• Clark Equipment Co. dba Bobcat Co. — Construction equipment maker
• Deere & Co. — Farm/construction equipment maker
• Duramax Inc. — Importer/ distributor
• Foreign Tire Sales Inc. — Importer/distributor
• Global Rubber Industries Private Ltd. — Sri Lankan solid tire maker
• Goodyear Tire & Rubber Co., Goodyear South Asia Tyres Private Ltd., Goodyear India Ltd.
• JK Tyre & Industries Ltd. — Indian tire manufacturer
• Joy Global Inc. — Mining equipment maker
• Komatsu America Corp. — OTR equipment maker
• KRM Tyres — Indian tire manufacturer
• Malhotra Rubbers Ltd. — Indian tire manufacturer
• MRF Ltd. — Indian tire manufacturer
• Michelin North America Inc. — U.S.-based tire maker
• M.E. Miller Tire Co. — farm tire dealer
• OTR Wheel Engineering Inc. — OTR tire distributor
• Pride Tires Inc. — Importer/distributor
• Rhino Manufacturing Group Inc. — Lawn & garden equipment supplier
• Silverstone Inc. — Importer/distributor
• Specialty Tires of America Inc. — U.S.-based tire manufacturerr
• Strategic Import Supply L.L.C. — Importer/distributor
• Super Grip Corp. — U.S. solid tire manufacturer
• Superking Manufacturers (Tyre) Pvt. Ltd. — Indian tire manufacturer
• TBC Corp. — Importer/distributor
• Tianjin United Tire & Rubber Intl. Co. Ltd. — Chinese tire manufacturer
• Tianjin Wanda Tyre Group Co. Ltd. — Chinese tire manufacturer
• Tire Wholesalers Co. Inc. — Wholesaler
• Topy America Inc. — Wheel maker
• Toyo Tire U.S.A. Corp. — Subsidiary of Japan's Toyo Tire & Rubber Co. Ltd.
• Trident International Pvt. Ltd., Trident Industrial Tires & Tracks LLP,
• TVS Srichakra Ltd. — Indian tire manufacturer
• Tyres International Inc. — Importer/distributor
• Weihai Zhongwei Rubber Co. Ltd. — Chinese tire manufacturer

Keep checking tirebusiness.com for coverage from the ITC hearing in Washington, D.C., by Miles Moore, Senior Washington Reporter.