China Trade Bill Offers False Promises, Says DeLauro
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Wednesday July 27, 2005
China Trade Bill Offers False Promises, Says DeLauro
- Does Not Address Growing Trade Deficit, Loss of U.S. Jobs -
WASHINGTON, D.C. - Congresswoman Rosa L. DeLauro (Conn.-3) today said the China trade bill under consideration by the U.S. House offered false promises and would do nothing to address the growing trade deficit with China or the loss of U.S. jobs. In 2004, the trade deficit with China was a record $162 billion B up 30 percent from 2003. The National Association of Manufacturers expects the trade gap to nearly double this year, reaching approximately $225 billion.
"Defending U.S. businesses and employees against China's unfair trade practices - the country with which we have the largest trade deficit - should be a top trade priority," said DeLauro, "Yet this legislation fails to address that deficit, offering no solutions for American industries hurt by Chinese imports, or requiring the Administration to take action to remove trade barriers to China.
"We should allow U.S. workers and businesses to challenge Chinese subsidies to manufactured and agricultural exports; filing a case in the World Trade Organization immediately to challenge China's currency manipulation; directing the U.S. trade representative to remove barriers to U.S. exports of goods and services and identify China's unfair trade practices," continued DeLauro. "These are positive steps that would make free trade fair trade in America with global standards that protect American workers and keep businesses competitive in a global economy.
"The trade bill under consideration today offers none of these solutions, which is why I can not support this initiative."
Earlier this month, DeLauro unveiled a 9-point plan to preserve U.S. manufacturing by making free trade fair trade and offering incentives to U.S. businesses that do not send work offshore. A copy of the plan can be found here: http://www.house.gov/delauro/manufacturing_plan.html.
http://www.house.gov/delauro/press/2005/July/china_trade_07_27_05.html