WASHINGTON, Oct. 15 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Speaker Nancy Pelosi issued the following statement in response to the announcement today by U.S. Trade Representative Ron Kirk that the United States will initiate a Section 301 investigation on the policies of the Chinese government in respect to trade and investment in green technology.  On September 28, 2010, a bipartisan group of 181 members of Congress sent the attached letter to President Obama calling for this 301 investigation.

"Today, the Obama Administration, at the urging of Members of Congress, is standing up for U.S. manufacturers and workers against unfair trade policies pursued by the Chinese government.  According to the information submitted by the U.S. Steelworkers, the Chinese government is employing a host of trade practices that violate World Trade Organization rules and that ship American jobs overseas.  

"While both China and the U.S. must continue to work toward a clean energy future, it is long past due for the Chinese government to play by the rules.  I look forward to working with the Obama Administration to ensure a more level playing field for U.S. businesses and workers, create jobs here at home, and make the products of the future here in the United States."

Background:

The investigation is in response to a petition by the United Steelworkers charging that the Chinese government is pursuing policies that unfairly support its domestic producers of clean energy by using export restraints, prohibited subsidies, discrimination against foreign companies and imported goods, technology transfer requirements and domestic subsidies that harm U.S. manufacturers and further increase our trade deficit with China.

SOURCE Office of the Speaker of the House