Ways & Means Trade Subcommittee Ranking Member Kevin Brady (R-TX) issued the following statement today, urging the President to review the economy-wide effects of the increased tariffs on tire imports from China.  The law allows the President to request a report from the U.S. International Trade Commission to gauge whether or not the tariffs have proven effective after they have been in place for six months.  

Brady said, “Six months ago, the Administration imposed a tire tax on American families to satisfy a narrow group of interests.  I urge the President to review the tire tax, as the law allows, on the basis of a full record of information so that he can determine whether the tax is doing more harm than good.

“This tire tax affects all Americans—workers, distributors, retailers, and consumers.  Fortunately, the law gives the President the opportunity to review the tax after six months to see if it is working or not.  In January, Congressman Dan Boren and I wrote to the Administration and asked for confirmation that it has a system to collect the full range of information so that the President can fairly assess the impact of the tax on all Americans.  Regrettably, no such system is in place.”

On January 21, Representatives Brady and Boren (D-OK) sent a letter to U.S. Trade Representative Ron Kirk, asking him to confirm that the Administration is monitoring comprehensively the impact of the tariffs. The full letter may be read here.