The Coalition for a Prosperous America (CPA) expressed support today for new legislation introduced by Rep. Louise Slaughter (D-NY-28) and Sen. Sherrod Brown (D-OH) called the “Reciprocal Market Access Act of 2009.” The bill will help solve the problem of the U.S. making tariff concessions in trade negotiations, while failing to gain effective foreign market access in return.
CPA Disappointed in U.S. Treasury’s Failure to Cite Currency Manipulation
The Coalition for a Prosperous America (CPA) expressed disappointment today that the U.S. Treasury failed to cite China as a currency manipulator. The October 15, 2009 report by Treasury stated that China’s currency is undervalued and that global economic balances persist as a result. But the report did not conclude deliberate manipulation existed.
CPA Supports U.S. Investigation into Chinese Steel Pipe Dumping
The Coalition for a Prosperous America (CPA) fully supports the recent decision, by the Department of Commerce, to begin an investigation into whether China is “dumping” and subsidizing steel pipes sold into the U.S. market.
The Coalition for a Prosperous America (CPA) welcomed Pat Choate to its Advisory Board today. Choate is a political economist, think tank strategist, policy analyst, and author who studies U.S. competitiveness and public policy. He is perhaps best known for being Ross Perot’s vice presidential running mate during the 1996 election.
Choate’s recent book, “Saving Capitalism: Keeping America Strong,” focuses upon multiple ways to fix the U.S. economy which has become structurally unsound. The book discusses trade, infrastructure, financial regulation, social safety net, and tax reform solutions.
Choate has been a longtime proponent of the need to fix America’s trade deficit and produce reforms that structurally alter the U.S. economy in a way to achieve long term prosperity. His ideas are neither radical nor partisan, but are potential game-changers if implemented.
CPA’s Advisory Board members serve on a voluntary basis to provide periodic insight and ideas to the CPA Board and staff on current issues and events. Advisory Board members do not necessarily agree with all of CPA’s positions, and CPA does not necessarily agree with all Advisory Board member positions. But their periodic contribution of ideas is extremely valuable.
CPA is pleased to have Pat Choate join our Advisory Board.
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A bipartisan alliance, the Coalition for a Prosperous America is a membership organization that represents the interests of 2.7 million people from manufacturing, agriculture, and organized labor. CPA promotes a new and positive U.S. trade policy that delivers prosperity and security to America, its citizens, farms, factories, and working people.
Coalition for a Prosperous America
www.prosperousamerica.org
September 15, 2009
CPA Statement Supporting Administration Decision in Tire Case: Rule of Law Essential in International Trade
The Coalition for a Prosperous America fully supports the decision by President Obama, issued September 11, 2009, to impose temporary tariffs on low-priced Chinese tire imports that were found to cause market disruption in the U. S. This represents a first step toward ending years of lax enforcement of our trade laws and rebuilding confidence in our trade policy as an instrument to promote fair trade.
The President’s decision was taken after a full investigation of the facts by the U. S. International Trade Commission. Chinese exporters participated freely in that investigation. The entire procedure was conducted under Section 421 (b) of the Trade Act of 1974, a provision that implements part of the deal that China agreed to in acceding to the World Trade Organization.
China has no basis for complaining about a procedure that it agreed to and a process in which it was permitted full participation.
Those who are shouting about the dangers of a “trade war” should be addressing themselves to Beijing. China has no right to retaliate simply because it doesn’t like a lawful decision taken by the United States.
Lax enforcement of our trade laws and our rights under international agreements has been a major factor in the erosion of public support for our trade policy. This decision is a long overdue first step in getting it right, and the CPA welcomes it.
