U.S. Trade Representative Explains Why China Is A Threat
U.S. Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer discussed the Trump administration’s trade agenda in 40-minute remarks last week at the Center for Strategic and International Studies. Former U.S. Trade Representative Bill Brock, who addressed the Metals Service Center Institute’s annual meeting last year, joined Ambassador Lighthizer for the discussion. During his remarks, Ambassador Lighthizer said:
- While free trade generally benefits the United States, countries like China “heavily intervene” in their markets to the detriment of the United States and U.S. workers.
- China is an “unprecedented” threat due in part to the fact that its government subsidizes domestic production.
- The World Trade Organization had not been effective at countering China’s unfair trade policies.
- The United States “must use all the instruments” it has “to make it expensive” for countries to engage in non-economic behavior” and to ensure its trading partners treat U.S. workers and U.S. industry fairly.
- It is legitimate for the United States to use trade deficits with various countries as a metric to determine whether free trade deals are working.