Teamsters Applaud House for Approving Crackdown on China

News provided by

International Brotherhood of Teamsters

Sep 30, 2010, 03:54 ET

Hoffa Calls on Senate To Pass Bill in Lame Duck Session

WASHINGTON, Sept. 30 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Teamsters General President Jim Hoffa today commended the House of Representatives for approving a bill to punish China for wrongful trade practices that cost the U.S. millions of jobs.

(Logo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20100127/IBTLOGO)

(Logo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20100127/IBTLOGO)

The bill would allow the Obama administration to penalize nations that undervalue their currency to make their exports cheaper. The bill passed by a wide margin, 348-79, with bipartisan support. There were 99 Republicans who voted with Democrats to approve the bill.

"The size of this vote shows Americans are furious that China is bleeding us dry," Hoffa said. "American workers are paying a steep price for China's cheating. This bill would help bring back the jobs that America lost.

"America has shut down tens of thousands of factories in the past 10 years. We make fewer computers than we did in 1975 and we don't manufacture a single cell phone. It's time to protect American manufacturing and American workers by cracking down on countries that break the world's trade rules," Hoffa said.

The legislation is headed to the Senate, which may vote on it during the lame-duck session.

By manipulating its currency so that it's worth 40 percent less than it should be, China can sell products more cheaply in the United States. American products are also more expensive in China. As a result, Americans spend $3.90 on Chinese goods for every $1 that the Chinese spend on American goods.

Founded in 1903, the International Brotherhood of Teamsters represents 1.4 million hardworking men and women in the United States, Canada and Puerto Rico.

SOURCE International Brotherhood of Teamsters