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?
Do you support or oppose requiring the U.S. government to purchase American made aluminum and other metals when building military hardware?
Which of the following is a bigger threat to the United States economy?
Who do you trust more to protect the United States from unfair Chinese trade behavior?
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/