China's Illegal Trade Practices Threaten Over 2,000 Maine Jobs 

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, Congressman Mike Michaud, Chairman of the House Trade Working Group, highlighted three new reports issued by the Economic Policy Institute (EPI) and the Law Offices of Stewart and Stewart, which found that more than 400,000 jobs in the U.S. auto supply chain have been lost since 2000.  The reports also found that another 1.6 million U.S. jobs, including 2,077 jobs in Maine, are at risk unless China is forced to play by the rules. 

“These studies offer compelling proof that American jobs are being lost because of China’s illegal government subsidies,” said Michaud.  “I urge the administration to read these reports and use all of its resources to bring a trade enforcement case against China for illegally subsidizing its auto parts industry.”

These reports found that China’s auto-parts exports increased more than 900 percent from 2000 to 2010 because China provided $27.5 billion in illegal subsidies to the sector.  During the same period, the U.S. trade deficit in auto parts increased from $9.5 billion to $31.2 billion, 28 percent of which was with China.

“From the paper industry to the auto parts sector, China simply refuses to play by the rules, and American workers and businesses suffer as a result.  We have to use every tool at our disposal to fight back.  The future of U.S. manufacturing depends on it.”