How to deal with China’s currency manipulation

The Aug. 31 editorial “Breaking China?” made several dangerous suggestions about China’s job-killing currency manipulation policy.

Crediting China for a “9 percent” appreciation is nonsense. The Peterson Institute for International Economics reports that the yuan is more undervalued today (28.5 percent) than it was a year ago (24.2 percent).

The Currency Reform for Fair Trade Act does not mandate sanctions against China or any other nation. Rep. Dave Camp, the Republican chairman of the House Ways and Means Committee, who has supported the measure, said that the bill does not “presuppose an outcome,” but rather sends “a clear signal to China that Congress’ patience is running out, without giving China an excuse to take it out on U.S. companies and their workers.”

Addressing currency manipulation would help to reduce our massive $273 billion annual trade imbalance with China and could, according to the Economic Policy Institute, create as many as 2.25 million U.S. jobs while reducing our budget deficit by $71.4 billion annually.

History shows that China reacts only to political pressure and the threat of real consequences, which is why Congress should approve legislation on currency manipulation as soon as possible.

Scott N. Paul, Washington

The writer is executive director of the Alliance for American Manufacturing.