Autoblog http://www.autoblog.com Autoblog http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/www.autoblog.com/media/feedlogo.gif Autoblog http://www.autoblog.com en-us Copyright 2009 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/<![CDATA[Obama administration slaps hefty import tariffs on Chinese-made tires]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2009/09/14/obama-administration-slaps-hefty-import-tariffs-on-chinese-made/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/09/14/obama-administration-slaps-hefty-import-tariffs-on-chinese-made/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/09/14/obama-administration-slaps-hefty-import-tariffs-on-chinese-made/#commentsFiled under: ,



The aggrieved parties are: the United Steelworkers and the U.S. government on one side, Chinese tire companies and the Chinese government on the other. The issues are, as always, jobs and money. The Steelworkers brought a case against Chinese tire companies for dumping tires on the U.S. market over the past few years and in the process putting more than 5,000 people out of work and closing seven domestic tire factories. The case was ruled on by the U.S. International Trade Commission, which found in favor of the Steelworkers. In response, the current administration plastered a 35% tax on Chinese passenger car and light truck tires.

Naturally, the Chinese are miffed, to say the least. They feel the tariff is contrary to World Trade Organization rules and President Obama's rhetoric on current tariff levels, as well as being a tactic of undue protectionism. When China entered the WTO, the U.S. specifically negotiated the right to protect itself against a sudden wave of Chinese goods, and the ITC feels that China's share of the tire market having grown 14% in four years, with 31 million more tires entering, is just such an occasion.

Politics could be the decider in this one, however. China can complain to the WTO, attempt to impose its own countermeasures, or at the upcoming G-20 meeting it can simply whisper in Obama's ear, "You know that $1.56-trillion-and-counting deficit you guys need floated..." Nobody wins in the case of escalation, but we have a feeling the fight isn't yet finished.

[Source: Wall Street Journal | Photo: Mark Ralston/AFP/Getty Images]

Obama administration slaps hefty import tariffs on Chinese-made tires originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 14 Sep 2009 13:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>chinachinese tiresChineseTiresgovernmentimportslegaltarifftariffstiresMon, 14 Sep 2009 13:58:00 EST<![CDATA[Canadian Loonie reaches parity with U.S. dollar, so why are Canadian cars more expensive?]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2007/09/23/canadian-loonie-reaches-parity-with-u-s-dollar-so-why-are-cana/http://www.autoblog.com/2007/09/23/canadian-loonie-reaches-parity-with-u-s-dollar-so-why-are-cana/http://www.autoblog.com/2007/09/23/canadian-loonie-reaches-parity-with-u-s-dollar-so-why-are-cana/#commentsFiled under: ,



Due to the dollar's dip, one American greenback is worth the equivalent Canadian Loonie. At least, it's worth the same at the exchange window. However, it is not worth anywhere near the same amount at Canadian car dealerships, and at least one Canadian wants to know why.

Even though the two currencies are at parity, the difference in the prices of various cars ranges from $7,000 to $10,000. An Audi A4 Quattro with the turbo 2.0-liter is $32,000 in the US, but it'll set you back more than $40,000 in Canada. A $25,095 Taurus here will run you $33,399 in Canada. The discrepancy when it comes to Volvo is highest, with a 38-percent markup that equates to an $11,000 premium if you buy in Canada.

With those kinds of numbers, it's no surprise that Canadians are going south of the border to find a set of wheels. The blogger, Clever Shark, has written to automakers to find out why the land of the maple leaf has to pay so much, but he's not holding his breath for answers.

[Source: Clever Shark, photo by KAREN BLEIER/AFP/Getty]

Canadian Loonie reaches parity with U.S. dollar, so why are Canadian cars more expensive? originally appeared on Autoblog on Sun, 23 Sep 2007 14:04:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>buy a car in canadaBuyACarInCanadacanadian looniecanadian tariffscanadian taxesCanadianLoonieCanadianTariffsCanadianTaxestariffsSun, 23 Sep 2007 14:04:00 EST<![CDATA[VW & Proton deal on shaky ground]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2007/03/05/vw-and-proton-deal-on-shaky-ground/http://www.autoblog.com/2007/03/05/vw-and-proton-deal-on-shaky-ground/http://www.autoblog.com/2007/03/05/vw-and-proton-deal-on-shaky-ground/#commentsFiled under: ,

Looks like the talks between Proton and Volkswagen aren't going as well as they could... again. Both companies have said that talks are continuing, but The Edge business newspaper is reporting that no agreement appears likely in the near future. They reported that VW has been "less keen" about the deal lately. The first round of deal breaking news came in December but things appeared to be back on track since then. Seems like there have been a lot of delays in the negotiations, fueling rumors of some discord, even though VW has already signed their letter of intent to purchase 51% of the company.

The deal itself involves the manufacturing part of Proton, which is Malayasian owned. VW is looking for additional production capacity for its Passat sedan to help with Japanese exports. Malayasian built Passats would avoid the Japanese tariffs because of a free trade agreement between these two countries. And even better news for Volkswagen is the fact that Malaysia is also working on free trade deals with Australia and the U.S. So they could also increase manufacturing there in the future for export to those markets as well.

Other companies are still showing interest in Proton, including three Malaysian firms. Some industry insiders even say GM is going to throw its hat into the ring. Another automaker that had been involved in the bidding was PSA Peugeot Citroën, but it has announced that it's no longer interested.

[Source: Motor Authority]

VW & Proton deal on shaky ground originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 05 Mar 2007 13:28:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>JapanMalaysiaPassatprotontariffsVWMon, 05 Mar 2007 13:28:00 EST<![CDATA[Score one for the free market: US dumps most of its steel tariffs]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2006/12/15/score-one-for-the-free-market-us-dumps-most-of-its-steel-tariff/http://www.autoblog.com/2006/12/15/score-one-for-the-free-market-us-dumps-most-of-its-steel-tariff/http://www.autoblog.com/2006/12/15/score-one-for-the-free-market-us-dumps-most-of-its-steel-tariff/#commentsFiled under:



Yesterday the U.S. International Trade Commission lifted tariffs on imported steel from Australia, Canada, France and Japan, and there was much rejoicing in the boardrooms of many automakers that build cars and trucks in the U.S. The tariffs were originally put in place on cheap steel imported into the U.S. from a total of six countries that threatened to collapse the U.S. steel industry back in 1993. Some 13 years later, the U.S. steel industry is healthy, and the tariffs that once were helpful, are now creating artificially high steel prices in the U.S.

Six automakers including General Motors, Ford, DaimlerChrysler, Honda, Nissan and Toyota lobbied hard for this outcome and were extremely pleased yesterday, despite not getting tariffs lifted against steel imported from Germany and Korea, tariffs on both of which will remain in place until reviewed again in 2011.

The rising cost of raw materials, steel in particular, has been a constant thorn in the side of our own domestic auto industry, the members of which are busy trying to orchestrate complex turnarounds at the moment. Hopefully market prices for steel will begin to drop as competition to sell this all-important ingredient in modern day cars heats up again.

[Source: Just-Auto]

Score one for the free market: US dumps most of its steel tariffs originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 15 Dec 2006 11:32:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>daimlerchryslerfordgmhondanissansteeltarifftariffstoyotatradeFri, 15 Dec 2006 11:32:00 EST<![CDATA[Is China playing around with trade rules to maintain an advantage?]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2006/06/01/is-china-playing-around-with-trade-rules-to-maintain-an-advantag/http://www.autoblog.com/2006/06/01/is-china-playing-around-with-trade-rules-to-maintain-an-advantag/http://www.autoblog.com/2006/06/01/is-china-playing-around-with-trade-rules-to-maintain-an-advantag/#commentsFiled under: ,

Officials from the US and European Union have been prompted to file a complaint against China with the World Trade Organization (WTO), alleging that the up-and-coming Asian country has been manipulating taxes and tariffs on imported auto parts in an attempt to provide protection for domestic Chinese auto manufacturers.

China was to ramp down its protectionist efforts on auto parts as a condition of joining the WTO, and for the most part, tariffs and taxes on vehicles and auto parts have steadily dropped over the last four years. Tariffs on imported vehicles remain higher than those on components, however, which leads companies such as Cadillac to import "knock-down" kits of components that are then assembled into complete vehicles on the mainland. China claims that such actions are merely efforts to get around the higher tariffs on complete vehicles (well, duh), and is now looking to tax such component kits at the same rate as completed vehicles.

How this whole story will play out - and what effect it will have on foreign companies who do business in China - is yet unknown, but it seems clear that we'll have several years before anything resembling "free" or "fair" trade takes place between China and the West.

[Source: Detroit News]

Is China playing around with trade rules to maintain an advantage? originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 01 Jun 2006 13:33:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>cadillacChinachinesefair tradefree tradeimportstariffsThu, 01 Jun 2006 13:33:00 EST