National Poll: Americans Consider Unfair Trade Practices that Kill U.S. Jobs Bigger Threat than Cyber Hacking

WASHINGTON, DC – November 18, 2015 – The China Trade Task Force (CTTF), a leading voice in protecting more than 10,000 American aluminum job that contributes $6 billion in U.S. economic output each year, today announced the results of a national survey that found that Americans consider unfair trade and market manipulation tactics by foreign governments, such as those orchestrated by China, a bigger threat to the U.S. economy than cyber hacking.

The survey, conducted by Morning Consult, also found overwhelming public support for a domestic aluminum industry currently threatened by illegal Chinese subsidies and market manipulation. That support stems from a 92% majority of Americans that consider it “important for the United States that American companies are able to produce materials such as aluminum and steel here in the United States,” and an 83% majority that support “requiring the U.S. government to purchase American-made aluminum and other metals when building military hardware.”

“There is no question that we have a hacking problem when it comes to China,” said CTTF Executive Director Will Dempster. “But today’s survey makes clear that it is not Beijing’s cyber hacking, but China’s job hacking tactics that people are most concerned about, and that Washington needs to do more to stand up to Beijing during our bilateral negotiations,” he continued.

The survey, which polled 2001 registered voters November 13-16 and can be found in full on the CTTF website, also gave presidential candidate Donald Trump a 7-point advantage over Democratic frontrunner and former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton when it comes to protecting America from “unfair Chinese trade behavior.”


How important is it for the United States that American companies are able to produce materials such as aluminum and steel, here in the United States?

  • Total important 92%
  • Total unimportant 2%
  • Don’t Know/No Opinion 6%

Do you support or oppose requiring the U.S. government to purchase American made aluminum and other metals when building military hardware?

  • Total support 83%
  • Total oppose 7%
  • Don’t Know/No Opinion 11%

Which of the following is a bigger threat to the United States economy?

  • Labor and trade policies in foreign countries aimed at taking US manufacturing jobs 49%
  • Cyber attacks against the United States that steal information from businesses 36%
  • Don’t Know / No Opinion 15%

Who do you trust more to protect the United States from unfair Chinese trade behavior?

  • Donald Trump
  • Hillary Clinton 40%

Today’s survey comes on the eve of a CTTF roundtable event at the National Press Club in Washington, D.C. that will examine the impact of China’s global market manipulation and illegal subsidies are impacting thousands of American aluminum workers and tens of thousands of other workers that support U.S. infrastructure.

Former U.S. Senate Majority Leader Trent Lott will join Century Aluminum CEO and President of Michael Bless and Former Under Secretary for International Trade at the Department of Commerce Grant Aldonas. Additional information on the 10:00 AM ET event, including a link to a live steam can be found at: http://chinatradetaskforce.com/an-exciting-invitation-china-trade-task-force-panel-discussion/ Continue reading “National Poll: Americans Consider Unfair Trade Practices that Kill U.S. Jobs Bigger Threat than Cyber Hacking”

Century Aluminum targets China as U.S. smelters fight for survival

At least one U.S. aluminum producer may be hunkering down for a trade dispute with top-producer China, as the beleaguered aluminum industry fights for survival amid high labor and energy costs and prices at a six-year low.

Century Aluminum Co, controlled by Swiss trader and miner Glencore Plc, is leading an aggressive campaign to fight China’s aluminum exports that it says threatens the U.S. industry.

Century faces high stakes as last week its share price plunged as much as 26 percent after the company reported a bigger-than-expected loss. It has also announced plans to close capacity and shutter one plant…