The presumptive Republican nominee also accused the president of failing to negotiate needed trade agreements and knocked Obama for "failing to effectively crack down on China" at the expense of American workers.
Not like we've
lodged a complaint about car tariffs or anything.
I wonder if he would have done that if it wasn't an election year, but then again I wonder if Romney truly has the stones to keep his stance should he get elected:
Taking a tough line toward China on trade issues is a tried-and-true strategy during election years. The administration’s action builds on a complaint filed in March against China for its alleged hoarding of rare-earth minerals, which are used to manufacture a range of sophisticated technology products.
Mr. Romney has called for much tougher steps against China on issues like intellectual property and currency policy. He has said he would label China a currency manipulator – a step that the Obama administration has steadfastly resisted.
but, looking at the press release linked to in that article, it looks like it is another one of China's 'you do something to us, we do something to you' moves:
Shortly after President Obama decided in September 2009 to impose a safeguard measure against Chinese tire imports, China’s Ministry of Commerce announced that it would initiate antidumping and countervailing duty investigations of imports of American-made cars and sport utility vehicles (SUVs). Then, in May 2011, China’s Ministry of Commerce issued final determinations in which it found that imports of American-made automobiles had been sold at less than fair value (i.e., “dumped”) into the Chinese market and had also benefited from subsidies. WTO rules permit imposition of duties on imports of merchandise that are found to be dumped or subsidized, if those imports cause injury to the domestic industry. However, at that time, China suspended the imposition of duties.
Subsequently, in December 2011, China began imposing both antidumping and countervailing duties on imports of American-produced automobiles. The antidumping duties range from 2.0 percent to 8.9 percent, with an “all others” rate of 21.5 percent, and the countervailing duties range from 6.2 percent to 12.9 percent, with an “all others” rate of 12.9 percent. The specific products affected by the duties are American-produced cars and SUVs with an engine capacity of 2.5 liters or larger. Last year, the United States exported more than $3 billion of these automobiles to China.
The United States believes that China initiated the investigations without sufficient evidence; failed to objectively examine the evidence; and made unsupported findings of injury to China’s domestic industry. In addition, China failed to disclose “essential facts” underlying its conclusions; failed to provide an adequate explanation of its conclusions; improperly used investigative procedures; and failed to require non-confidential summaries of Chinese company submissions.
I'd hate to see what they would do to quid pro quo Romney saying such a thing.
