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China defends tyre-making quality China defends tyre-making quality
(about 6 hours later)
The Chinese government has defended a national tyre maker accused in the US of exporting faulty products.The Chinese government has defended a national tyre maker accused in the US of exporting faulty products.
Hangzhou Zhongce Rubber is being sued by US firm Foreign Tire Sales (FTS), which has called on the Chinese firm to recall 450,000 of its truck tyres.Hangzhou Zhongce Rubber is being sued by US firm Foreign Tire Sales (FTS), which has called on the Chinese firm to recall 450,000 of its truck tyres.
The New Jersey firm said in May it had stopped buying Zhongce van and truck tyres owing to safety worries.The New Jersey firm said in May it had stopped buying Zhongce van and truck tyres owing to safety worries.
But China's top quality control body said tests on the tyres showed they were "qualified to be sold in the US".But China's top quality control body said tests on the tyres showed they were "qualified to be sold in the US".
"There should no worries about tyres made in China," said Wang Xin, a senior official with China's General Administration of Quality Supervision, Inspection and Quarantine."There should no worries about tyres made in China," said Wang Xin, a senior official with China's General Administration of Quality Supervision, Inspection and Quarantine.
The Chinese company has also denied there were any problems with its tyres.The Chinese company has also denied there were any problems with its tyres.
'No faults''No faults'
FTS is being sued by the relatives of two men killed last year in a crash involving a vehicle said to have used Zhongce tires. FTS is being sued by the relatives of two men killed last year in a crash involving a vehicle said to have used Zhongce tyres.
FTS has claimed the tyres sold under the brand names Westlake, Telluride, Compass and YKS lacked a rubber layer known as a "gum strip," which prevents tread separation.FTS has claimed the tyres sold under the brand names Westlake, Telluride, Compass and YKS lacked a rubber layer known as a "gum strip," which prevents tread separation.
But the Chinese firm cast doubt on the validity of the recall, saying it had "not found the faults cited by FTS".But the Chinese firm cast doubt on the validity of the recall, saying it had "not found the faults cited by FTS".
It added that none of its other US customers had expressed concerns about the reliability of its products.It added that none of its other US customers had expressed concerns about the reliability of its products.
The US imports more than 30 million tyres from Chinese producers, whose low labour costs make their tyre prices highly competitive.The US imports more than 30 million tyres from Chinese producers, whose low labour costs make their tyre prices highly competitive.
The standard of Chinese imports to the US have come under the spotlight in recent months after chemical scares prompted a succession of product recalls.The standard of Chinese imports to the US have come under the spotlight in recent months after chemical scares prompted a succession of product recalls.
The US has queried the safety of products made in China, ranging from food to tyres and toothpaste.The US has queried the safety of products made in China, ranging from food to tyres and toothpaste.
At the same time China has imposed a suspension on some US meat imports.At the same time China has imposed a suspension on some US meat imports.
Meanwhile, a political backlash against the spiralling US trade deficit with China has led to calls for tighter controls on imports.Meanwhile, a political backlash against the spiralling US trade deficit with China has led to calls for tighter controls on imports.