The latest monthly study from The Institute for Supply Management reported yesterday that its February manufacturing index registered at 48.3, the weakest reading in nearly five years.  That’s slightly worse than the 48.4 reported in December, and a sure sign that the U.S. manufacturing sector is contracting. In the Washington Post today, EPI’s Susan Helper notes that the U.S. "manufacturing sector has been hammered" by job losses, but remains “vital to our nation's economy" because it accounts for “12 percent of gross domestic product and over half of our national spending on research and development." Helper suggests greater innovation and more education and training for workers as key components of any plan to revitalize U.S. manufacturing. While these are important points, ManufactureThis would argue that enforcement of existing U.S. trade law, especially against countries like China (that cheat on trade agreements), should also be an important first step.