“China has been undervaluing its currency for years, and we cannot afford to wait any longer to address this problem.” — U.S. House Populist Caucus, April 7, 2010.
Congressman Bruce Braley (D-Waterloo, Iowa) is a co-founder of the “Populist Caucus” in the U.S. House of Representatives. The group today penned a letter to U.S. Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner, complaining the Chinese are manipulating their currency — and the group charges Geithner isn’t addressing the problem. Geithner is visiting China.
Populist Caucus Statement on Treasury Department’s Refusal to Address Chinese Currency Manipulation in Report
Washington, DC – In advance of Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner’s visit to China tomorrow, members of the House Populist Caucus today issued the following statement urging him to release a determination on Chinese currency manipulation. Reps. Bruce Braley (IA-01), Peter Welch (VT-AL), DeFazio (OR-04), Michael Arcuri (NY-24), Betty Sutton (OH-13), Keith Ellison (MN-05), Steve Kagen (WI-08), Phil Hare (IL-17), Dan Lipinski (IL-03), Brad Sherman (CA-27), Carol Shea-Porter (NH-01) and Dave Loebsack (IA-02) believe it is critical for Geithner to issue the report and address the issue of Chinese currency manipulation as quickly as possible.“Secretary Geithner’s recent announcement that the Treasury Department is delaying the release of its bi-annual report on international exchange rate policies and delaying making a determination on Chinese currency manipulation is completely unacceptable and needs immediate corrective action. It is clear that China is maintaining its currency at a devalued exchange rate by pegging the renminbi to the U.S. dollar at a fixed exchange rate, and that this unfair policy is having a detrimental impact on American workers and companies. China’s undervalued currency lowers the price of Chinese exports, makes U.S. exports to China more expensive, and makes it impossible for U.S. producers and workers to compete on a level playing field. Additionally, China’s devaluation of its currency exacerbates the already staggering U.S.-China trade deficit and threatens the stability of the global financial system.
“China has been undervaluing its currency for years, and we cannot afford to wait any longer to address this problem. In this time of economic difficulty, we must do everything we can to promote and protect U.S. jobs and workers. The Obama Administration must identify China as a currency manipulator and use all available authority and resources to end this unfair trade practice without delay.”
On March 15, Braley, Welch, DeFazio, Arcuri, Sutton, Ellison, Kagen, Hare, Lipinski, Sherman, Shea-Porter and Loebsack sent a letter to Geithner expressing concern over China’s ongoing manipulation of its currency.
About O.Kay Henderson
Kay is a founding member of the Radio Iowa network newsroom. In 1994, she became the network’s news director. She’s a featured reporter and commentator on Iowa Public Television’s “Iowa Press,” and the 2002 recipient of the Shelley Award.
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