Renacci hails decision to retain tariffs on Chinese roller bearings

The U.S. International Trade Commission (USITC) on Sept. 7 determined that the existing antidumping duty order on imports of tapered roller bearings from China will remain in place, a decision U.S. Rep. Jim Renacci (R-OH) supports.

“Representing the 16th District of Ohio, I have always been concerned that China’s injury pricing of tapered roller bearings … poses a threat to the manufacturers within my district, like the Timken Company,” Rep. Renacci said on Sept. 11.

The Timken Co. – one of the largest employers in the congressman’s Ohio district with 1,400 people in the state on payroll out of a total global base of roughly 15,000 employees – “has suffered as a result of dumping practices,” said Renacci.

“I back the USITC’s willingness to take this issue seriously and protect the high-skilled jobs and support to the local economy the Timken Company provides,” he added. “Our local manufacturers deserve a level playing field and a fair shot at competing in the global economy.”

In July, Rep. Renacci submitted written testimony for the record in the USITC’s investigation into whether to rescind the antidumping duty order on imports of tapered roller bearings from China.

China, currently the world’s largest tapered roller bearings producer and the second-largest global exporter, has been underselling U.S. product by an average margin of 46 percent – a margin U.S. producers can’t compete with, according to the congressman’s staff.

The USITC heard verbal testimony from numerous witnesses during a July 31 hearing on the case. The Chinese tariffs, first imposed more than 30 years ago, were set to expire unless the trade commission took action.

Rep. Renacci applauded USITC Chairman David Johanson and the other four trade commissioners for prioritizing American interests and upholding the tariffs.

“American manufacturers have suffered long enough from China’s trade practices and we are not going to stand by and let it happen any longer,” he said.

The USITC’s action is authorized under the five-year (sunset) review process required by the Uruguay Round Agreements Act. The commission said in a statement that a public report detailing its review of the Chinese tariffs will be available by Oct. 15.