Slaughter Says Obama Ruling On China Tire Case Is Good For American Workers 

Washington, DC – Congresswoman Louise M. Slaughter (D-NY-28), Chairwoman of the House Committee on Rules, issued the following statement tonight after the White House announced that President Obama had issued a levy on Chinese made tires. Although the 35 percent levy was less than the 55 percent recommended to him in July by the US International Trade Commission, it was still a significant statement of administration support for organized labor, which has lost jobs and closed factories as tire imports surged. Four U.S. tire plants closed in 2006 and 2007, while three more plants are slated to close this year.

“It’s great to see the United States stand up for its workers for a change,” Slaughter said. “This was the first big test of whether President Obama was going to side with the interest of big corporations and the U.S. Chamber of Commerce or with workers and I am happy to say that he came down on the right side. I have complained many times that the government always says that free trade deals will be enforced but too often those have been empty promises. I only wish that we could have done something about Buffalo Color, which years ago used to make indigo dye but went out of business because of dumping by Chinese competitors.”

Rep. Slaughter is a leader of fair trade issues and a member of several Congressional groups that have asked for better treatment for American workers. Earlier this year, Slaughter invited U.S. Trade Representative Ron Kirk to join her and several other House members in her office to discuss a new framework for trade deals. In addition, Slaughter testified on the issue this past summer before the U.S.-China Economy & Security Review Commission.

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