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Obama, who is pushing to overcome resistance to so-called
fast-track authority from within his own party as well as
conservative Republicans, said if China prevailed, U.S. workers
and businesses would be at a disadvantage.
"That’s why I’m asking both parties to give me trade promotion
authority to protect American workers, with strong new trade
deals from Asia to Europe that aren’t just free, but fair," he
said in the State of the Union address, also acknowledging past
deals had not always "lived up to the hype."
China is not part of the Trans-Pacific Partnership the United
States is negotiating with 11 other trading partners, which aims
to set common standards on issues such as workers' rights and
the environment as well as lower trade barriers.
The Asian giant is instead pushing for faster progress towards a
trade pact with the wider Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation
(APEC) bloc.
Asked about Obama's comments, China's Foreign Ministry said on
Wednesday the country was willing to work with the U.S. to
resolve trade problems.
"We hope each side can put forth joint efforts to provide a
fair, open and transparent trade and investment environment, and
jointly work to make contributions to improving global
investment rules," said ministry spokeswoman Hua Chunying in a
daily briefing.
National Association of Manufacturers President Jay Timmons said
fast-track, which gives Congress a yes-or-no vote on trade
agreements in exchange for setting negotiating objectives, would
make trading partners take the United States more seriously and
backed Obama's focus on China.
"I think it's important to note that there are countries all
over the world, China included, that would like to take away
America's mantle of economic leadership," he said.
Trade supporters and critics are already lobbying lawmakers on
fast-track authority, and Maryland lawmaker Steny Hoyer, the
second-ranking House Democrat, said the White House had to
consider Democrats' concerns about trade deals hurting jobs and
wages.
"The majority of Democrats right now are very hesitant, to say
the least, and not at all sure that trade is good for working
people,” said Hoyer, who voted against fast-track in 2002 but
has supported major trade deals.
(Additional reporting by Julia Edwards; Reporting by Krista
Hughes; Editing by Ken Wills)
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