In response to a recent ruling by the World Trade Organization (WTO) that determined China’s policies of limiting exports of raw materials violate international trade rules, U.S. Rep. Mike Coffman (R-CO), authored a formal complaint demanding that U.S. Trade Representative Ron Kirk also file an official complaint against China’s rare earth trade policies. The letter was signed by 10 other republicans and two democrats.

“While steps must be taken to secure domestic supplies of rare earths, we must also ensure that WTO members adhere to free trade agreements with regards to rare earth materials,” Coffman said in the letter. “The recent ruling by the WTO regarding China’s export restrictions on raw materials affirms that such trade policies go against its membership obligations.”

We support Rep. Coffman’s push to end China’s practice of limiting exports of rare earth elements, as these trade policies represent a significant contribution to the unlevel playing field that China has created in the world marketplace and create massive trade deficits for the U.S.  However, Congress must also focus on ending China’s currency manipulation, which acts as a tax on our exports and as a subsidy to Chinese-made goods that are shipped to the U.S.

Many of the members who signed Rep. Coffman’s letter—Including Rep. Coffman himself-- have not yet signed on as cosponsors of H.R. 639, the Currency Reform for Fair Trade Act, which would enhance our ability to counter unfair trade practices and allow our companies and workers to be more competitive. The bill has 54 Republican cosponsors and had 99 Republican 'aye' votes last September. In addition to Rep. Coffman,  Rep. Robert E. Latta (R-OH), Rep. Jerry Lewis (R-CA), Rep. Cynthia M. Lummis (R-WY), Rep. Cathy McMorris Rodgers (R-WA), Rep. Peter Olson (R-TX), and Rep. Scott Tipton (R-CO) have not cosponsored the bill.

Thanks to Rep. Rob Bishop (R-UT), Rep. Leonard Boswell (D-IA), Rep. Walter B. Jones (R-NC), Rep. Daniel Lipinski (D-IL), Rep. Donald Manzullo (R-IL), and Rep. Thaddeus McCotter (R-MI) for working to put an end to China’s cheating by signing on as cosponsors.

Learn more about China’s currency manipulation.

Click here to tell your members of congress to cosponsor the Currency Reform for Fair Trade Act.