Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer said Democrats in both chambers are working together on trade legislation that would punish the Chinese trade violations that have undercut the U.S. economy and American jobs.
“We are going to be coming up with a very strong trade package, much of it aimed at China,” Schumer, D-N.Y., told reporters Tuesday, declining to provide details.
Schumer said Democrats are ready to work with Trump on a trade deal and while he would not provide information about the Democrats’ plan, he listed four priorities that include taking punitive action against China for intellectual property theft, declaring China a currency manipulator, punish China for illegally subsidizing Chinese commodities such as aluminum, and taking action against China in response to discriminatory practices that prevent U.S. interests from competing there.
“We are urging him to get tough on China,” Schumer said. “If he does, he’ll find a willing and eager partner in Democrats.”
Schumer, a longtime critic of China’s trade policies, criticized President Trump for not taking a stronger stand against the country during a meeting last weekend with President Xi Jinping.
Trump, Schumer told reporters, “had a golden opportunity to win concessions from Xi when he visited last week. But unfortunately Trump has come home empty-handed.”
Schumer told reporters he spoke with Trump prior to the meeting and urged him “to be tough with Xi,” on trade and that doing so would help him make more progress with China when it comes getting the country to tame North Korea.
“I told him the tougher you are with one, the more likely you are to get further with the other,” Schumer said. “I won’t tell you what he said, but not much.”
Schumer said Trump’s inaction against China falls short of a promise Trump made during the campaign to quickly label the country a currency manipulator.
“It would send a strong shot across the bow on his first day,” Schumer said. “Didn’t do it…He went back on that, without even a fight. He just backed off as quickly as he came into office.”
Trump has not revealed his plans on trade, other than offering cryptic signals on Twitter.
Trump tweeted Tuesday he’s ready to make a deal with China, but tied it to foreign policy, not currency manipulation or other problems.
“I explained to the President of China that a trade deal with the U.S. will be far better for them if they solve the North Korean problem!” Trump tweeted.
Schumer, responding to the tweet, told reporters, “Ask the American people if they’d like that deal. They won’t.”
