The conservative Club for Growth isn’t pleased with the “China Bashing” coming from both President Barack Obama and his Republican opponent Mitt Romney.
Lacing into China seems to be a rite of passage for presidential candidates in recent elections, though the combative rhetoric turns to cooperation once a president takes office.
Romney has railed against China’s unfair trade policies throughout the campaign, and a White House official announced Sunday that the Obama administration will file a case against China at the World Trade Organization over illegal subsidies to its auto and auto parts industry.
The Club for Growth, which promotes free trade as part of its economic freedom policy, isn’t pleased with this year’s bellicosity.
It put out a statement Monday saying, “The Club for Growth today denounced the China-bashing skirmish between Mitt Romney and President Obama. Both candidates are trying to portray themselves as the ‘toughest’ on China when it comes to trade. They have both threatened to enact anti-growth policies against China that will raise prices, incite a trade war, and do real damage to our country’s economic recovery.”
Most economists agree that our imports from China help keep consumer prices down.
“Instead of pandering on trade with China, both Presidential candidates ought to tout the benefits that come with free trade,” Club for Growth President Chris Chocola said in the statement.
“Freer trade with countries like China means more markets for American businesses, and more competition leads to lower prices and more choices for American consumers. If Romney and Obama are serious about growing our economy, they should focus on cutting the corporate tax rate and eliminating burdensome regulations. China-bashing will only serve to hinder economic growth.”
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