Congressional leaders press for progress on China's trade issues

By Vicki Needham - 11/30/12 06:45 PM ET

Congressional leaders are pressing top Obama administration officials to tackle China's trade barriers during meetings next month.

Four committee leaders expressed frustration that "necessary progress is lacking" as China moves away from reforming its economy and failing to follow through on its commitments to those changes.

In a letter on Friday, the lawmakers expressed concern that China is "more deeply embracing an economic model dominated by state-owned enterprises" and is applying inconsistent tariffs despite World Trade Organization (WTO) rules.

"While incremental progress has been made, our list of concerns remains troublingly similar year-to-year," the lawmakers wrote.

U.S. Trade Representative Ron Kirk and Acting Secretary of Commerce Rebecca Blank are expected to lead the U.S.-China Joint Commission on Commerce and Trade (JCCT) meeting next month. Dates have not been announced.

"China’s state capitalist model presents a range of issues that impact the future prosperity of the United States and the economic stability of the world," the wrote.

The lawmakers litany of complaints against China include failing to effectively enforce intellectual property rights, undervaluing their currency and promoting an economic environment that favors their own industries and discriminates against other nations, including the United States.

"As China undertakes its leadership transition, the United States must utilize every opportunity to address China’s barriers to U.S. trade and investment and encourage China’s efforts to rebalance its economy," they wrote.

Earlier this month, Chinese officials announced that Vice President Xi Jinping would become the Communist Party's new leader in March.

Senate Finance Committee Chairman Max Baucus (D-Mont.), House Ways and Means Committee Chairman Dave Camp (R-Mich.), Senate Finance Committee Ranking Member Orrin Hatch (R-Utah) and House Ways and Means Ranking Member Sandy Levin (D-Mich.) all signed the letter.