June 13, 2006
June 13, 2006
Governor Visits with Workers Affected by Trade
LANSING – Governor Jennifer M. Granholm today met with workers, business owners and community leaders at Lawrence Tech University in Southfield to discuss the impact on Michigan of the Bush Administration’s trade policies. The Governor, who has been a consistent advocate for federal action to protect Michigan manufacturers from unfair trade practices, will also visit with workers in Grand Rapids, Lansing and Saginaw this week.
“Michigan workers can compete with anyone on the globe,” Granholm said. “But our workers and manufacturers need a level playing field. Instead, they’re being asked to play with one arm tied behind their back. It’s unfair, and I won’t sit quietly while it happens.”
Granholm said that trade deficit figures released last Friday highlight the uneven global playing field. Overall, the nation's trade deficit rose to $63.4 billion in April, the sixth highest monthly total in history. The skyrocketing U.S.-China trade deficit is one reason for the expanding overall trade deficit. The Department of Commerce reported that U.S. trade deficit with China rose to $17 billion in April. Currently, the U.S. is on pace to increase last year’s record-setting trade deficit by more than 6 percent.
“It’s easy to get lost in the huge numbers and the international jargon and forget that these policies affect real families,” said Granholm. “The automotive industry feels the impact more directly than most, which means Michigan families hurt.”
The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) estimates that more than $12 billion in domestic sales of automotive parts is lost each year as a result of counterfeit parts. Two of every three counterfeit auto parts originate in China in direct violation of World Trade Organization agreements. According to FTC estimates, if counterfeit parts were eliminated, the U.S. auto industry would be able to support 250,000 more employees.
In April, the Governor was joined by United States Senator Carl Levin (D-MI) and Congressman Sandy Levin (D-Royal Oak) for a similar conversation with workers and business leaders in Macomb County.
“In a manufacturing state like Michigan, the automotive capital of the world, these issues are so important for our families,” Granholm said. “That’s why I’ll continue to be a strong advocate and a loud voice in favor of trade that’s fair to our products, our businesses, and our workers.”
# # #
