Renacci stands up for Ohio-based Timken Co.; wants tariffs retained on Chinese bearings

U.S. Rep. Jim Renacci (R-OH) is advocating that federal trade tariffs on imports of roller bearings from China be retained, action supported by The Timken Co., an Ohio-based global manufacturer of steel bearings.

Rep. Renacci on July 31 submitted testimony to the United States International Trade Commission (USITC) supporting its Continuation of Antidumping Duty Order for the country and requesting that USITC arbitrators make a final decision that favors Ohio businesses and workers, according to the congressman’s office.

“We must protect our state’s businesses and workers from irreparable harm caused by China underselling our products and distorting the market,” Rep. Renacci said.

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, including Timken Executive Vice President and Group President Christopher Coughlin and Timken Vice President for the Americas Brian Ruel. The Chinese tariffs, first imposed more than 30 years ago, are set to expire unless the trade commission takes action.

“Here in Ohio, our local industries need a level playing field to be successful and I urge the commission to conclude that an affirmative final determination is warranted in this case,” said Rep. Renacci, who submitted his written testimony to the USITC on behalf of Timken, which is headquartered in Canton, Ohio, in the congressman’s 16th district. Timken employs 1,400 people in Ohio out of a total worldwide base of roughly 15,000 employees.

The Timken Co. has suffered “severe harm” from China’s dumping of tapered roller bearings into the U.S. market, according to a July 31 statement from Renacci’s office, which noted that Timken has had to close down plants as a result – its Canton tapered roller bearing facility in 2009 and two Ohio bearing plants in 2010.

“These unfairly traded imports are distorting the market for industries in the 16th district and the rest of our nation,” the statement says.