© 2024 MICHIGAN PUBLIC
91.7 Ann Arbor/Detroit 104.1 Grand Rapids 91.3 Port Huron 89.7 Lansing 91.1 Flint
Play Live Radio
Next Up:
0:00
0:00
0:00 0:00
Available On Air Stations

Stabenow pushes for action on trade violations

Michigan Senator Debbie Stabenow says it’s time to get tough with countries that flout international trade rules.

She’s pushing a three-part legislative package, the American Competitiveness Plan, that aims to crack down on those countries.

Stabenow singles out China as the worst offender when it comes to manipulating international trade rules to its advantage. But the U.S. government has generally been reluctant to take action.

Stabenow says the time to act is now. She says one of the biggest issues is currency manipulation—China intentionally deflating the value of its currency to keep exports artificially cheap.

“It’s very important that we send a loud message to China and any other country that is manipulating their currency that it is illegal, it is unfair, and it needs to stop.”

The United States also has the smallest trade enforcement office of any developed country. Stabenow says that needs to change, and proposes creating the job of trade prosecutor to go after alleged trade law violations.                            

“It’s time to make sure we have somebody whose job it is to focus 100% of their time on enforcing trade agreements, again to level the playing field to create the ability for our companies and our workers to be able to compete successfully in a global economy.”

The third proposed would increase efforts to prevent, and punish, intellectual property theft.

Stabenow says Senate is slated to vote on the currency manipulation bill—which is opposed by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce and other lawmakers--as Monday evening.

Sarah Cwiek joined Michigan Public in October 2009. As our Detroit reporter, she is helping us expand our coverage of the economy, politics, and culture in and around the city of Detroit.