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U.S. plans on getting tough with China

Marketplace Staff Sep 16, 2010
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U.S. plans on getting tough with China

Marketplace Staff Sep 16, 2010
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TEXT OF INTERVIEW

STEVE CHIOTAKIS: Treasury Secretary Tim Geithner is signaling the Obama administration plans to go toe-to-toe with China over its currency. U.S. businesses say China is keeping its currency too low, giving it an unfair trade advantage. Marketplace’s Nancy Marshall Genzer is with us live from Washington this morning. Hi Nancy.

NANCY MARSHALL GENZER: Good morning.

CHIOTAKIS: So Geithner is testifying this morning before the Senate Banking Committee. Are we hearing some tough talk?

MARSHALL GENZER: Well yes, actually we are. Geithner said Beijing hasn’t let its currency, the yuan, rise enough against the dollar. China’s critics say it’s devalued its currency by as much as 40 percent. And that gives Chinese exporters an advantage because their products are cheaper than U.S. products — since the yuan is worth less than the dollar. Now China promised to loosen the yuan’s peg to the dollar, letting it appreciate. But Geithner says that’s not happening fast enough.

TIM GEITHNER: We are concerned, as are many of Chinas trading partners that the pace of appreciation is too slow and the extent of appreciation is too limited.

And Steve, Geithner also said China is allowing rampant piracy of U.S. products. And he said Beijing has put up trade barriers that keep American companies from operating there.

CHIOTAKIS: So then, Nancy, what is the administration going
to do about all this?

MARSHALL GENZER: Well until now, the White House has preferred quiet diplomacy with China. That’s how President Bush dealt with Beijing. But today, Geithner amped up the pressure on China. He said the administration is committed to “using all tools available to ensure American firms and workers” can compete fairly with China.

CHIOTAKIS: Tools? What’s he talking about — tools?

MARSHALL GENZER: Well, for starters, the administration has
filed two new trade cases against China before the World Trade Organization. If the WTO rules in Washington’s favor, the U.S. could slap sanctions on Chinese products.

CHIOTAKIS: Marketplace’s Nancy Marshall Genzer reporting from our Washington studio. Nancy, thanks.

MARSHALL GENZER: You’re welcome.

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