U.S. Rep. English plans to ‘push harder’ for stronger trade legislation

WHEATLAND, Pa. — U.S. Rep. Phil English, R-3rd, said Congress has to act to keep China from slipping through trade legislation loopholes to gain unfair advantages against U.S. companies.

English, of Erie, decried Congress’ slow pace in dealing with the issue against the backdrop of Wheatland Tube, a company that fought China’s steel pipe dumping without the help of Congress and won a favorable ruling in June from the International Trade Commission and the U.S. Department of Commerce.

At a gathering there today, English said he and a handful of other federal legislators are going to push hard for a vote on stronger trade legislation.

English said Congress has to “level the playing field” for American employers.

“If we want to sustain our standard of living, we have to end the bias built into our economy which encourages imports and disadvantages domestic production, including exports,” English said in a letter to House Speaker Nancy Pelosi. “Nowhere is this issue more obvious than with our trade relationship with China.”

For the complete story, see Wednesday’s Vindicator and Vindy.com.