In Europe time would be rather the concern

In the United States, were Cree victory. In Europe, time would be rather the concern. Because if the WTO, in dismissing the complaint of China, to grant his blessing to the barriers established by the Americans to stop imports of Chinese tires across the Atlantic, in the European Union, these tires are constantly gaining ground. "2010 will be a record year for imports of Chinese tires in Europe," confirms Fazilet Cinaralp, Secretary General of the European Association of manufacturers of tires and rubber (Etrma).

In the first half already, only imports on the Continent of tyres for cars and light trucks from China jumped by 55 over one year to 18.5 million units, according to figures published by Eurostat. Throughout the year, imports of this category of tyres could rise to 45 million units, according to the Etrma. All types of combined tire, they expected to reach 55 million.

China has thus become the first source of imported tires in Europe (27 of total imports), Korea (16), the Japan and the United States. At the same time, between 2007 and 2008, exports of tyres Europeans to China grew to 800,000 units, 1.8 million.

"Our members install rather factories in China, to take advantage of local growth," explains Fazilet Cinaralp. In addition, hope to cross the borders of the Middle Kingdom, tires of European origin must to pay a tax of 10. Conversely, Chinese tires are subject to a 4.5 tax to their entry into the EU. This, while across the Atlantic, a decree signed in 2009 for a period of three years by Barack Obama imposes customs duties up to 35 (30 the second year and 25 the third) tourism tires and light trucks from China.

Three times cheaper

Result: "when the US administration has identified its rights of China Customs, mills which imported tires in Europe from Korea or Taiwan began to export more to the United States." "The Chinese, they began to import more us," explains Fazilet Cinaralp.

But if Chinese manufacturers saw their sales rise in Europe, it is also the price of their products almost 3 times lower than those of their European competitors that they have eroded some 4 points of market share in the past five years. More worrying: it is now on the segment of the tire high-performance, until then pre square of European manufacturers, that the increase in Chinese imports.

Step from technical barrier

Slow hardening of European standards for energy efficiency of braking on wet and labelling, scheduled to come into force from November 2012, this ascent Not so sure. Because, by raising the cost of development and certification, this regulatory changes also promises to increase the pressure on European industry.

In addition, "it will be necessary to ensure that each acteur plays well according to the rules", prevents Fazilet Cinaralp. However today already in the 27 countries of the European area "monitoring of the market, which is the competence of national authorities, do is step in the most harmonised manner and the most effective", concedes. And the less scrupulous know take advantage.

A proof: number of independent organizations such as the German TV or, more recently, the Swiss TCS have pinned weaknesses or even the dangerousness of some Chinese tires, but duly qualified. "We have no tariff barrier or technical barrier, therefore, an effective monitoring of the market by our local authorities", argues the Etrma. And as China continues to arm themselves: it is to build a five-year plan to improve the efficiency of the tyre industry in streamlining some 500 brands that make up.