Foreign-used car dealers oppose new rules

There has been strong opposition from the Pre-Owned Automobile Deal-ers Association (PADA) to the imposition of a $100 tyre inspection fee for new and used imported vehicles. The Trinidad and Tobago Bureau of Standards (TTBS) had previously indicated that in the interest of public safety, the tyres of all new and foreign-used cars would have to be inspected and certified before they can be licensed. Following meetings bet-ween PADA and the TTBS, dealers said that the $100 fee was too high and suggested that the tyres be certified at the point of origin.

Another grievance was that new car tyres would be inspected on the rim whereas foreign-used car tyres would have to be removed. The TTBS offered numerous reasons why these suggestions could not be considered. In response, the PADA has publicly expressed its discontent in a paid press advertisement. In the ad, the association accused the TTBS of allowing American and German dumped or discarded tyres to enter the country.  It also refers to Trinidad as, “the only country in the world that imports Japanese-used cars but does not accept their tyres.” PADA highlighted the environmental impact of this action, saying that perfectly good tyres will be dumped. Since the major refuse centre is not accepting tyres, they also questioned where they will be placed. The association has made a stern call to the TTBS to revisit this standard to include Japanese new and used tyres.