Bush won't bring trade case against China. Suprised?

[bigtree]

By MARTIN CRUTSINGER
The Associated Press
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/businesstechnology/2002031569_chinatrade10.html

WASHINGTON — A business and labor coalition, seeking to apply political pressure before the presidential election, asked the Bush administration yesterday to bring a trade case accusing China of manipulating its currency to gain unfair trade advantages against U.S. companies and workers.

But the administration quickly rejected the 175-page petition, declaring that it would not "retreat into economic isolationism" by bringing a case that could impose economic sanctions on Chinese goods.

>>>>>

Democratic presidential challenger Sen. John Kerry said Bush's rejection of the petition was yet another example of the administration's failure to enforce U.S. trade laws to protect U.S. workers.

"Today, George Bush has made it clear that he wants to continue taking America in the wrong direction by refusing to enforce our trade agreements and continuing to allow China to manipulate its currency," Kerry said in a statement issued by his campaign. "As president, I would take America in the right direction — acting vigorously to end China's illegal currency manipulation."

[bigtree]

1. so much for the issues approach

[Ernesto]

2. "not retreat into economic isolationism"

Code for "not kill the golden goose for corporate off-shoring profiteers" (or screw American workers, my base is making plenty of $$$$$$$$$$)