Since joining the World Trade Organization in 2001, China has become a manufacturing and export giant. But Bob Baugh of the AFL-CIO’s Industrial Union Council says the Asian powerhouse hasn’t played fair.
“Currency manipulation. Illegal subsidies. No labor enforcement or laws. No rights to form unions in that country," complains Baugh. "That’s illegal, and we should fight like hell against it.”
Baugh praises the Obama Administration’s WTO complaints against China, most recently for illegally subsidizing exports of its vehicles and auto parts. 8th District State Representative Mike Dovilla has urged the president to take more aggressive action. The Berea Republican says dealing with China has cost more than 103,000 jobs in Ohio, mostly in manufacturing.
“Unfair trade with China, has foreclosed on the opportunity for far too many Ohioans to prosper, and I believe that we can do more to reverse these job killing policies.”
Tackling China is a bipartisan affair. Democratic Congresswoman Marcy Kaptur referred to China’s practices as “Market Leninism”, and spoke of unfulfilled deals and a lack of transparency.
Besides getting tough with China, panelists proposed other ways to boost domestic manufacturing. This included reviewing current tax and trade policies, and investing in worker training.
Nearly 100 people attended the daylong event.