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U.S., Chinese Sign Auto Safety Pact

Safety agencies say they'll open new communication pathways

By Joe Benton
ConsumerAffairs.com

Septembr 12, 2007

The agreement will also smooth the road for Chinese automakers to export their products to the U.S.

The agreement follows a similar joint statement signed yesterday by representatives of consumer safety agencies in the U.S. and China.

The memorandum provides for a representative of the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration to be able to telephone a Chinese safety counterpart instead of writing a letter, having that letter translated into Chinese and faxing the document to China.

"We are strengthening the lines of communication and cooperation to improve the safety of vehicles and automotive equipment in both our countries,” said NHTSA Administrator Nicole R. Nason. “This agreement will also help us to better enforce our standards.”

The U.S. and Chinese agreement would help resolve disputes like the recent recall of Chinese manufactured tires by a New jersey importer. Foreign Tire Sales of Union, N.J., recalled 255,000 tires in August after reporting problems with tires it had imported from a company in China.

Several U.S. automakers have also expressed interest in importing Chinese-made passenger vehicles and automobile parts.

Improved communication between safety regulators in both countries will ease the way for Chinese manufacturers begin designing and engineering vehicles for sale to U.S. consumers.

The Consumer Product Safety Commission signed a similar agreement with China three years ago. Despite the memorandum of cooperation, the commission was unable to keep unsafe toys from China out of the U.S.

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