The Brazilian government has renewed its anti-dumping duties on certain Chinese passenger car tyres for up to five more years. The decision, detailed in GECEX Resolution No. 744, dated 3 July 2025, aims to protect the domestic tyre industry from the likely resumption of unfair trade practices.
Continuing Anti-Duping Duties for Chinese Tyres
The measure applies to new radial tyres for passenger cars of series 65 and 70, for 13- and 14-inch rims, and in widths of 165, 175, and 185. These are commonly classified under the Mercosur Common Nomenclature (NCM) code 4011.10.00.
The duties are levied as a specific monetary amount in US dollars per kilogram (US$/kg). For companies not explicitly named, the rate is set at $1.77/kg, with specific rates for other producers including the GITI Group ($1.25/kg), Shandong Linglong Tyre Co., Ltd. ($1.54/kg), Zhongce Rubber Group Co. Ltd. ($1.54/kg), and Shandong Changfeng Tyres Co Ltd. ($1.29/kg).
The investigation, conducted by Brazil’s Department of Commercial Defence (DECOM), concluded that ending the tariff would be highly likely to lead to a resumption of dumping and subsequent economic injury to Brazilian manufacturers. A key finding of the review was that the Chinese tyre sector does not operate under market economy conditions, a conclusion consistent with previous Brazilian investigations. Investigators pointed to significant state intervention, particularly the government’s ‘Tyre Industry Policy’, which influences investment, production capacity, and financing costs.
Due to this finding, authorities used a methodology based on prices in a substitute market economy, selecting Argentina for this purpose, rather than using Brazilian domestic prices to determine fair value. The analysis indicated that Chinese producers would likely need to sell products at dumped prices to compete in the Brazilian market, thereby undercutting domestic producers. The report also highlighted China’s significant export potential, noting its total exports of these tyres are several times larger than the entire Brazilian market, posing a considerable threat should the duties be lifted.
This resolution marks the third renewal of the anti-dumping measure, which was first implemented in September 2009 following an investigation initiated in 2008. The most recent review was requested on 1 April 2024 by the National Association of the Tyre Industry (ANIP) on behalf of its member companies, including Pirelli, Bridgestone, and Continental.
Throughout the review period, from January 2019 to December 2023, the domestic industry showed signs of deterioration in several economic indicators, including a 50% drop in domestic sales volume and a significant decline in production, employment, and profitability. Although imports from China during the review period were not considered substantial enough to be the direct cause of this decline, the investigation concluded that their resumption at dumped prices would exacerbate the damage to the domestic industry.
How this new investigation will apply to commercial tyres and the effects on the retreading market are yet to be known. Still, it’s a piece of the new landscape of tariffs, duties and regulations that are shifting the global tyre industry.
