Senators Seek Action on U.S.-China Trade Imbalance
Posted by Jeckert on October 28th, 2009
The Alliance for American Manufacturing (AAM) commends Senator Robert P. Casey (D-PA) and his Senate colleagues for writing a letter to Commerce Secretary Gary Locke and United States Trade Representative (USTR) Ron Kirk to seek action on the massive U.S.-China trade imbalance. Included in their letter was a discussion of AAM’s recent report on the subsidization of the Chinese glass industry.
Locke and Kirk will be traveling to China to participate in a meeting of the Joint Commission on Commerce and Trade with their Chinese counterparts on October 28-29.
Reacting to the Senate letter, AAM Executive Director Scott Paul said the following:
“I want to commend Senator Casey and all of his colleagues who agree that China’s glass subsidies must be urgently addressed. We’ve already lost too many good paying jobs in this industry. Our trade negotiators must work to eliminate China’s energy subsidies. Otherwise, America’s oldest industry – dating back to Jamestown Colony in Virginia – may face a bleak future.”
The impact of China’s subsidization of its glass industry is being felt in many towns throughout the U.S., both large and small. However, perhaps the most glaring sign of its massive and unprecedented expansion can be found at a symbol of American freedom in New York City. On October 10, 2009, the Washington Post reported on Dr. Haley’s study and its implications at the World Trade Center reconstruction where Chinese glass is being used.
Senator Casey (D-PA) was joined on the letter by Senators Arlen Specter (D-PA), Debbie Stabenow (D-MI), Sherrod Brown (D-OH), Mary Landrieu (D-LA), Chuck Schumer (D-NY), Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY), and Evan Bayh (D-IN).
A copy of the letter issued by Senator Casey’s office can be found here.
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