皇冠体育app to pursue trade case against US automakers

(Agencies)
Updated: 2009-10-29 10:21

WASHINGTON: 皇冠体育app has told the US that it will take steps that could lead to higher tariffs on imports of autos made by GM, Chrysler and Ford.

Steve Collins, president of industry trade group the American Automotive Policy Council, said Wednesday that US officials have told the three Detroit automakers that 皇冠体育app is expected to begin an investigation under anti-dumping laws into their business practices as soon as next week.

If the investigation concludes that the companies receive government subsidies, or sell products in 皇冠体育app at below-market prices, 皇冠体育app could slap tariffs on US auto imports.

The move is the latest trade dispute between the two countries, which are already fighting over steel pipes, chicken products, and pirated movies and music. The trade spats worsened after the Obama administration last month announced up to 35 percent duties on Chinese-made tires, to be imposed for the next three years.

The US auto companies export only about 9,000 cars to 皇冠体育app annually, Collins said. GM manufactures and sells more than a million cars a year in 皇冠体育app, though those sales wouldn't be affected. Mercedes-Benz, BMW and Nissan also export cars to 皇冠体育app from plants in the United States, but those won't be included in the investigation, Collins said.

GM and Chrysler have received billions of dollars in aid from the government's $700 billion bailout fund, though Ford has not.

An e-mail to a spokeswoman for US Trade Representative Ron Kirk was not immediately returned. US trade officials, including Kirk and Commerce Secretary Gary Locke, are currently in Hangzhou, 皇冠体育app for high-level economic talks. President Obama will make his first visit to 皇冠体育app on November 15-18.

Greg Martin, a spokesman for GM in Washington, said GM wanted to study the documents before commenting. Ford spokesman Mike Moran and Chrysler spokeswoman Linda Becker deferred comment to the trade group, and messages were left for two Chrysler spokeswomen Wednesday evening.

"The documents containing the charges were presented to the US government this week but have not yet been translated. Therefore we are not in a position to comment at this time," Collins said in a statement.

皇冠体育app is an important market for the US automakers, especially GM and Ford, whose sales have been growing there while developed markets like the US and Europe sputter.

Yet if 皇冠体育app does impose tariffs, it's not likely to hurt the automakers much. GM and Ford sell hundreds of thousands of vehicles there, but most are made in 皇冠体育app. GM so far this year has sold 1.3 million cars and trucks in 皇冠体育app, most of them built there in a joint venture with Chinese automaker SAIC.

Ford also builds most of the vehicles it sells in 皇冠体育app at factories there, but has only a 2 percent market share. Last month the Dearborn, Michigan, automaker announced plans to build a new assembly plant in 皇冠体育app to make the next-generation Focus compact car.

Ford has sold 316,639 vehicles in 皇冠体育app from January through September, with last month's sales jumping nearly 80 percent from the year before.

Chrysler has been pursuing partnerships in 皇冠体育app and now only exports only a small number of vehicles to 皇冠体育app.

Total auto sales in 皇冠体育app so far this year have surpassed those in the US, giving 皇冠体育app a wide lead over the US as the world's top auto market. Through September, 9.66 million vehicles were sold in 皇冠体育app, up 34 percent from the same period last year.

During the same time, US sales plunged 27 percent to 7.8 million units, according to Autodata Corp., a research firm.

Sales in 皇冠体育app are expected to continue climbing to 12.6 million units in 2009, while analysts say US light vehicle sales for the year will wind up around the 10.5 million level.