US trade officials plan November trip to China

U.S. trade officials are headed to China next month to discuss a broad spectrum of issues as Congress ramps ups efforts to crack down on policies they argue are hurting American businesses.

U.S. Trade Representative Ron Kirk and newly confirmed Commerce Secretary John Bryson will head to Asia to discuss Chinese currency, intellectual property and indigenous innovation issues that officials say give China an unfair international trade advantage. 

"If we have full and unfettered access to China's market as their exporters do to ours, the economic impact to U.S. businesses could be extraordinary," Kirk said at the U.S. Chamber of Commerce on Wednesday night. 

Kirk said he would have just enough time to change his clothes and get a meal before catching his flight to the annual U.S.-China Joint Commission on Commerce and Trade following the conclusion of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit in Honolulu from Nov. 12 to 13, hosted by President Obama.

The U.S. already has boots on the ground in China with new ambassador Gary Locke, the former Commerce secretary. 

Specifics on the trip aren't available yet, aides said. 

Meanwhile, lawmakers on both sides of the Capitol are pressing for China to let the value of its currency rise faster against the dollar or face punishment.

Trade advocates are urging caution in passing any sweeping measures that could put China on the defensive and consider retaliation, such as lowering prices for products headed to the United States. 

"Let's talk about how we help each other," said Tom Donohue, president of the Chamber. 

Donohue agreed that China should continuing letting its currency, the yuan, appreciate but it should happen on an "evolutionary basis not revolutionary basis."

During a House panel hearing on Tuesday, Obama administration officials hedged on whether the White House would support legislation to punish China for manipulating its currency.

They said a Senate-passed bill that could lead to higher tariffs on Chinese imports includes some provisions that may violate international trade rules. 

House Democrats are pressing GOP leaders to take up a bill by House Ways and Means ranking member Sandy Levin (D-Mich.), which is similar to the Senate measure. 

“We need to provide a sense of urgency to this issue. There’s a tendency to avoid that, to talk about progress and not emphasize the extent of the problem,” Levin said.