Tyre importers and transport industry players want the government to slam the brakes on what they term a bizarre application by local manufacturers for anti-dumping duties on various categories of Chinese tyres, saying the tariffs could drive up the cost of tyres by as much as 41%.

A Business Day report says the application for anti-dumping duties on car, truck and bus tyres from China was recently lodged by the SA Tyre Manufacturers Conference (SATMC), the industry body and trade association of local tyre manufacturers: Bridgestone, Continental, Goodyear and Sumitomo.

These four companies are under scrutiny by the Competition Commission for alleged price-fixing.

Yesterday, the Tyre Importers Association of SA warned that the cost of tyres could increase by up to 41% if the local manufacturers are successful in their application.

SATMC has approached the International Trade Administration Commission the organisation tasked with customs tariff investigations, trade remedies, and import and export control and the companies are collectively requesting duties of between 8% and about 70%.

It argues that tyres used on cars, buses and lorries originating in or imported from China are being dumped into the Southern African Customs Union market, causing material injury.

But critics say the application is without merit, more so because local manufacturers could be unable to meet local demand.

Full Business Day report