Garamendi: Tariff on Chinese Solar Imports Levels Playing Field for American Businesses
WALNUT GROVE, CA – Today, Congressman John Garamendi (D-Fairfield, CA) praised the Commerce Department’s decision to impose anti-dumping tariffs on Chinese solar imports that have received illegal subsidies. This is the latest in a series of actions the Obama administration has taken to enforce trade laws, so that American businesses compete on a level playing field.
“The Chinese government is cheating, and it’s killing American jobs,” said Congressman Garamendi. “Instead of supplying cheap rhetoric, President Obama has fought back, so American businesses and workers can compete with fair trade policy. In California, we know that clean energy supports the jobs of the present and the future. Through smart public policy, we can Make It In America, so America can make it once again.”
“We need to build up the American manufacturing sector to create good jobs and that requires a level playing field. We also need to spend our tax money on American equipment, which is the purpose of H.R. 6216 and H.R. 6217, my legislation to create clean energy and transportation manufacturing jobs” Garamendi added.
Garamendi is the author of “Make It In America” legislation that would require taxpayer dollars for transportation and clean energy projects are spent on American manufacturing, creating American jobs.
Since 2009, American jobs in solar energy have doubled to over 100,000 across the country. The global market for clean energy is estimated to reach $2 trillion by 2020.
The Congressman has consistently spoken out against the Chinese government’s manipulative practices, including currency manipulation. He has also advocated forcefully for American manufacturers by hosting regional manufacturing forums, speaking out through the media and on the House floor, sponsoring job creating legislation, and signing onto letters authored by colleagues committed to fairer trade policies. (Copies of letters from 2011 and 2012 are linked here and here).
The Obama Administration has repeatedly challenged Chinese trade practices at the World Trade Organization. They have saved American jobs through successful cases in the production of copyrighted creative material such as books and DVDs, wind turbines, tires, industrial raw materials used in aluminum and chemicals, grain-oriented flat rolled steel, and electronic payment services. The Administration also has ongoing challenges on behalf of American poultry, rare earth materials used for hybrid car batteries and other products, and auto parts.