Tire Business (subscription required) is reporting that Toyo Tire & Rubber Co. Ltd. will move production of consumer tires it makes in China for export to the U.S. to plants in Japan in response to the Obama administration’s decision to impose higher tariffs on Chinese-made passenger and light truck tires.
Toyo sources tires for the U.S. market from Cheng Shin-Toyo Tire & Rubber (China) Co. Ltd., its former joint venture plant in Kunshan, China. Toyo and Taiwan’s Cheng Shin Rubber Ind. Co. Ltd. set up the joint venture in 1995, but Toyo disclosed in early September it is selling its share in the venture and instead will build its own plant in China.