Contemporary Practice of the United States: International Economic Law: President Acts on Labor Claim of Market Disruption, Imposes Tariffs on Chinese Tires

This article briefly notes that President Obama announced on September 11, 2009 that the United States would impose extra taxes on certain rubber tires imported from the People’s Republic of China because the high volume of imports would adversely affect domestic production. The President had authority to make this determination under Section 421 of the Trade Act of 1974. A distinguishing feature of these tariffs is that they were imposed after a labor union complained about the potential damage to the industry’s workers, whereas historically such tariffs have been authorized when complainants also come from the “import-competing industry.