CHINA-BASED TYRE PRODUCERS SHOULD CONSIDER M'SIA AS PRODUCTION AVENUE

KUALA LUMPUR, Sept 26 (Bernama) -- China-based tyre manufacturers should consider setting up operations in Malaysia.This is to avert the recent punitive tariff of 35 per cent imposed on Chinese-made tyre imports by the United States.

"China buys a lot of rubber from Malaysia as raw material to produce tyres
there. If manufacturers set up factories and export from Malaysia, they would
avoid the impact of the increased tax," the Deputy Chairman of the
Malaysia-China Chamber of Commerce, Ir. Liew Choon Kong told Bernama here
Saturday.

The decision by the United States to impose extra duties on Chinese-made
tyres has triggered strong complaints from local tyre companies in the country.

It has also led to China strongly opposing the act of trade protectionism by
the United States.

According to Liew, if tyres are produced in Malaysia by China-based
manufacturers, the specifications would not be categorised as being "Chinese",
which would enable the product to enter the US market.

"In this way, it would be cost effective as well, while steering away from
the impact of the new US tariffs on Chinese tyres," he said.

Liew said the move would also indirecty open up more business opportunities
for Malaysian and Chinese companies to work hand in hand, in view of the current
economic environment.

He also urged local food and beverage (F&B) producers to penetrate the
Chinese market as there was more untapped opportunities due to the growing
population.

"The Chinese have difficulty getting coffee suplies. So, this is an example
of a market Malaysian producers can look at," he said.

-- BERNAMA