BISHOP SUBMITS TESTIMONY FOR INTERNATIONAL TRADE COMMISSION HEARING ON CHINESE TIRE IMPORTS

I pasted this from his website:

Washington, D.C. – Congressman Sanford D. Bishop, Jr. (GA-02) on Tuesday submitted testimony to an International Trade Commission hearing in Washington, D.C., to explore the increase in Chinese tire imports in the U.S. markets

“The flood of tire imports over the last five years has been remarkable,” Bishop said. “It is no surprise then that there has been a steep decline in domestic production. The Chinese imports drove down our share of our own market which has resulted in layoffs, reduced capacity, and plant closings.”

In April of this year, the United Steelworkers Union (USW) responded to the dramatic surge of consumer tire imports from China by filing a trade case under Section 421 of U.S. trade laws, which allows the U.S. to address surging imports into our markets. Today’s hearing was an investigation of the USW’s filing.

Congressman Bishop has taken particular interest in this issue since the announcement last year by Cooper Tire and Rubber Company that it would close its factory in Albany, Ga., resulting in the loss of nearly 1,400 jobs.

“The Cooper Tire Company has helped contribute to Albany’s growth and prosperity by providing good jobs at good wages,” Bishop said. “With the economic troubles now gripping Georgia, our country, and much of the world, it was a real setback to the hardworking citizens of Albany when the closing of the Cooper facility was announced.”

Just before Christmas of last year, Cooper Tire and Rubber Company announced it would close its factory in Albany, Georgia, resulting in the loss of nearly 1,400 jobs. You can only imagine the shock that this announcement brought on our workers and their families, and for that matter, the entire community.

Albany is a beautiful town. It is the birthplace of Ray Charles and big band leader Harry James. In the early 1960s, a determined group of Albany citizens led a desegregation campaign that attracted national attention. The Cooper Tire Company has helped contribute to Albany’s growth and prosperity by providing good jobs at good wages. With the economic troubles now gripping Georgia, our country, and much of the world, it was a real setback to the hardworking citizens of Albany when the closing of the Cooper facility was announced.