A team of Retread Instead supporters participated in this year’s Tire Industry Association-sponsored Federal Lobby Day, educating legislators on the economic benefits of tire retreads compared to cheap foreign options. Lobby Day was held on June 20th in Washington DC.

Retread Instead is a coalition of retread industry supporters that seeks to inform and educate on the environmental and economic benefits of retreading tires instead of buying, selling and running low-quality Chinese-made tires that cannot be retreaded.

Retread Instead members began at the American Trucking Associations office with a federal agency briefing that included several representatives from the Department of Transportation. The group then headed to the Russell, Dirksen and Hart Senate office buildings where TIA had pre-arranged 30-min meetings with senators from both parties including Sen. Rand Paul (R-KY), Bob Corker (R-TN) and Sen. Tim Kaine (D-VA).

The group reiterated its support for a tariff on commercial truck and bus tires that are imported from China and emphasized the need to maintain a full complement of commissioners at the U.S. International Trade Commission.

Lobby Day ended with a reception in the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee Room at the Rayburn House office building. Retread Instead hosted a table with product and literature on display for the Congressmen and staff who attended. A keynote address was given by Democratic Whip, Congressman Steny Hoyer (D-MD-5).

“Our goal was to garner support and momentum for our cause,” said Ron Elliott, Marangoni Tread North America's marketing and communications manager and Retread Instead spokesperson. “ At each office we gained additional contacts and information that will help us concentrate our efforts towards the Senate Finance committee where at this time the nominees are waiting in que to be approved prior to moving on to the Senate for a full vote.”

Related: The Truck Tire Trade War