- 26 February 2007 -
U.S.-China Commission Addresses Trade Issues

The U.S.-China Economic and Security Review Commission announced its new chairman in January, as well as its plans to hold a wide range of hearings in 2007 and advise Congress on "serious questions in the U.S.-China relationship."  The Commission, a bipartisan entity created by Congress to analyze issues and make recommendations on US policy toward China, will examine a host of issues, such as China's compliance with its obligations under the World Trade Organization (WTO), the impact of trade with China on U.S. manufacturing and the defense industrial base, and U.S. security implications of China's military modernization and emerging force deployments.

The Commission elected as its new chairman a current commissioner, Carolyn Bartholomew, who is an expert on U.S.-China relations, and former senior policy advisor and chief of staff for House Speaker Nancy Pelosi. Last May, Commissioner Patrick Mulloy discussed U.S.-China issues with finishers during the industry’s annual Washington Forum. In his exchange with attendees, he underscored the Commission's concerns about the impact on U.S. manufacturing competitiveness of China's runaway growth, as well as its currency, IP policies and its increasing trade surplus with the United States.

As mandated, the Commission annually holds hearings with testimony from various experts, and develops four annual reports for Congress. In fact, the Commission held a hearing in early February on The U.S.-China Relationship: Economics and Security in Perspective. This hearing featured expert testimony from Capitol Hill, the Administration, academia and other economic and trade organizations

For last year's reports and updates about this year's hearings and other activities on U.S. economic and manufacturing issues, go to www.ussc.gov.