Putting a Positive Spin on the Tires Tariffs

USTR Kirk had the following to say about the tires decisions:

A spat over US tariffs on Chinese tires need not trigger a trade war between Washington and Beijing, US Trade Representative Ron Kirk said Wednesday.

"I don't believe it should or need spark any trade war," Kirk said during a visit to Brazil.

"In the short-term it could mean that we buy a lot more tires from Brazil," he added to a conference of Brazilian businesspeople.

So China's loss is Brazil's gain.

 

ADDED: 

Hmm, after seeing this comment on the post, perhaps I should add that the spin is positive for Brazil.  I'm not sure the union folks who brought the complaint will be as thrilled.  An excerpt from the comment:

The tire tariffs will have absolutely no beneficial impact on the U.S. industry, as the U.S. does not and will not produce the types of low-end tires that China exports to the United States. As Ron Kirk correctly (but imprudently) noted to his Brazilian audience, the United States will simply import more of these tires from other countries.