U.S. tire dumping probe clears initial trade panel vote

WASHINGTON, July 14 (Reuters) - U.S. anti-dumping and anti-subsidy probes that could heap tariffs on imports of car and light truck tires from South Korea, Taiwan, Thailand and Vietnam cleared an initial hurdle on Tuesday as the U.S. International Trade Commission voted to let them proceed.

The commission said in a statement that it voted affirmatively in the preliminary phase investigations. The Commerce Department on June 23 opened probes into whether tires from the Asian countries were being sold at less than fair value in the United States, seeking tariffs as high as 217% for tires produced in Thailand. (Reporting by David Lawder; editing by Jonathan Oatis)