Wyden Statement on Steelworkers Petition Against Unfair Chinese Trade Practices
Urges USTR Kirk to Act on Behalf of American Workers
Washington, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senator Ron Wyden (D-Ore.), chair of the U.S. Senate Finance subcommittee on International Trade, issued the following statement regarding the filing of a petition by the United Steelworkers arguing that the Chinese government unfairly subsidizes domestic clean energy technology in violation of World Trade Organization rules:
“The adoption of clean energy technology provides the opportunity for the United States to be energy independent and support millions of new jobs, but this can only happen if the Obama Administration effectively combats China's unfair trade practices. I strongly urge Ambassador Kirk to carefully consider the allegations put forward in the 301 petition filed today, and act on behalf of American workers.
On its face, China’s growing dominance in the green energy sector appears to be the result of a command and control industrial policy. A recent report produced by my office showed that China’s exports of green goods skyrocketed to over $27 billion between 2004 and 2008, an increase of over 500 percent. China’s share of every single major regional market for green goods increased considerably, often at the expense of other exporters, including those of the United States. At the same time, the U.S. trade deficit in green goods increased substantially, to the benefit of China.”
A copy of the report is available here.
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