In response to President Trump signing a memorandum to consider an investigation into Chinese intellectual property violations, DNC spokesperson Daniel Wessel released the following statement:

“Trump’s announcement to consider studying a problem we already know exists falls far short of the promises he made to the American people. Trump said he would take action and be tough on trade, but his decision today represents yet another delay and more unfulfilled promises. The White House estimates that as much as $600 billion in intellectual property theft is perpetuated by China. These practices cost jobs, hurt American manufacturing and require real action. Instead, Trump has decided to put this problem off, leaving American workers and our economy at risk. Trump promised change, but he is turning into just another typical politician.”

TRUMP HAD TAKEN NO ACTION ON STEEL AND ALUMINUM IMPORTS THAT HE COMPLAINED WERE “KILLING OUR STEEL WORKERS”

The Reports That Trump Ordered On Steel And Aluminum Imports Were Delayed, After Originally Due For Release At The End Of June. “Meanwhile, the Commerce Department did not respond on Monday to a request for information on when it would release the results of its Section 232 investigation on steel imports and one on aluminum. Both were originally expected at the end of June, along with a third report on the causes of significant bilateral trade deficits, which is also still bottled up in an internal administration review.” [Politico, Morning Trade, 7/11/17]

Donald Trump: “I Look Forward To Reading The @CommerceGov 232 Analysis Of Steel And Aluminum- To Be Released In June. Will Take Major Action If Necessary.” [@realDonaldTrump, Twitter, 5/27/17]

Trump: “You Take A Look At What Is Happening To Steel And The Cost Of Steel And China Dumping Vast Amounts Of Steel All Over The United States, Which Is Killing Our Steel Workers And Steel Companies.” TRUMP: “We have to bring back our workers. You take a look at what is happening to steel and the cost of steel and china dumping vast amounts of steel all over the United States, which is killing our steel workers and steel companies. We have to guard our energy companies. We have to make it possible. The EPA is so restrictive that they are putting our energy companies out of business, and all you have to do is go to a great place like West Virginia or places like Ohio, which is phenomenal, or places like Pennsylvania, and you see what they’re doing to the people, miners and others in the energy business, it’s a disgrace. It’s an absolute disgrace.” [Presidential Debate, St. Louis MO, 10/9/16] 

TRUMP HAD NOT LABELED CHINA A CURRENCY MANIPULATOR, DESPITE HAVING PLEDGED TO DO SO ON DAY ONE

April 2017: Trump Said He Would Not Label China A Currency Manipulator.  “President Donald Trump said Wednesday that he no longer believes China manipulates its currency, a complete shift from the position he repeatedly took during his 2016 campaign.  ‘They’re not currency manipulators,’ Trump told the the Wall Street Journal during an Oval Office interview.” [NBC News, 4/12/17]

Trump Said On His First Day In Office He Would Announce Plans To Renegotiate NAFTA And Label China A Currency Manipulator. “He said he would immediately begin implementing his trade agenda by announcing plans to renegotiate NAFTA, withdraw from the Trans-Pacific Partnership, and ask the Treasury secretary to label China a currency manipulator. He would suspend immigration from nations he considers ‘terror prone,’ and begin deporting criminal illegal immigrants.” [Wall Street Journal, 10/22/16; Trump Campaign Speech, Gettysburg PA, 10/22/16]

THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION CLAIMED TRADE CONCESSIONS WITH CHINA THAT DID NOT ACTUALLY AMOUNT TO ANYTHING

HEADLINE: “Trump’s China Trade Deal Is Underwhelming” [Editorial, New York Times, 5/15/17]

HEADLINE: “‘Herculean’ U.S.-China Trade Deal Gets Less-Than-Heroic Reviews” [Wall Street Journal, 7/16/17]

Despite The Trump Administration Claiming A “Herculean Accomplishment” In Extracting Chinese Promises To Open Markets In Finance And Agriculture, Affected American Companies Said China Had Made Only Slow, Modestly Improved Access In Some Sectors. “When Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross announced in May the ‘herculean accomplishment’ of extracting Chinese promises to open swiftly long-restricted markets in finance and agriculture, he pronounced the actions ‘more than has been done in the whole history of U.S.-China relations on trade.’  Now, as the two countries mark Sunday’s deadline for completing the agreements, affected American companies say Beijing has met the letter of its pledges, yet fallen short of the spirit. Their assessment: slow, modestly improved access in some sectors, while lingering obstacles in others will continue to stymie foreign firms for years, even as specific targeted barriers have been removed.” [Wall Street Journal, 7/16/17]

COMPANIES CONTINUED TO MOVE TO CHINA DESPITE TRUMP’S PROMISE THAT “WE’RE NOT GOING TO LET CHINA” TAKE OUR COMPANIES ANYMORE

Trump: “We’re Not Going To Let China” Take Our Jobs Anymore. TRUMP: “The biggest problem is you have student debt and you're a good student and you went to a wonderful college, everything is great, and then you look for a job and you can't get a job. We're going to bring jobs back to this country.  We're not going to let China, Japan, Mexico, all these countries — and I could name — and — 40 of them.  They take our jobs, they take our money.  We're going to bring the jobs back here.  We're going to keep our companies here.  We're not going to let Pfizer and all these companies go. So when you do have — when you go through and you do well, now, you're going to look for a job and you're going to get a great job, the kind of job you want.  That's the most important. But we're going to do something with extensions and low interest rates, OK?” [Greta Town Hall, Fox News, Milwaukee WI, 4/3/16]

Ford Motor Announced It Would Build Its New Small Car For American Consumers In China. “Ford Motor said on Tuesday that it would build its next-generation small car for American consumers in China rather than Mexico, where the automaker canceled plans for a new factory this year.  The shift of production of the Ford Focus to China was among a number of manufacturing moves announced by the company, and one of the first strategic steps taken by its new chief executive, Jim Hackett… The company was building a $1.6 billion assembly plant for the next Focus model in Mexico, but it ran into stiff opposition from President Trump and then canceled the project.” [New York Times, 6/2017]

Microsoft Announced It Was Closing An Oregon Factory And Moving Production To China. “But last week Microsoft summoned its Wilsonville employees to an early-morning meeting and announced it will close the factory and lay off 124 employees – nearly everyone at the site – plus dozens of contract workers…  Though workers present say he didn’t disclose the location, Microsoft has previously said it makes its other Surface computers in China.” [Oregonian, 7/19/17]

HEADLINE: “Microsoft Closes US Surface Factory, Moves Production to China” [Extreme Tech, 7/20/17]