U.S. Imports of Tires The tariff applied to U.S. imports of tires began in the fourth quarter of 2009 (2009Q4) and ended in the third quarter of 2012 (2012Q3). The value of imports from China fell from about 33% of overall imports to 15% when the tariff began, and rose from about 12% of overall imports to 22% when the tariff ended. This decline in imports from China was substantially made up by increased imports from other Asian countries and Mexico, which exported more to the United States.