Global lawmakers are gearing up for a war against China’s trade policies that could affect millions of U.S. jobs.
America’s 20 largest trade partners issued a united declaration against Chinese trade practices they say cost the U.S. up to 2.8 million jobs. It calls on leaders of the Group of 20 nations to take forceful action.
The G20 group includes the world’s five largest economies, including the U.S., France, Germany, Japan and Britain. The group, according to its website, is responsible for more than 55 percent of the world’s GDP.
The alliance wants the G20 nations to consider creating an independent body that would monitor global trade policy and create fair trading conditions with China, which has just one member in the coalition.
Part of the task will be to use diplomacy with China as well as push its trading partners to maintain pressure on China to stop violating U.S. and international trade rules.
The alliance also wants Beijing to change its takeover policy of global companies to spur more investment in advanced technologies. The group also thinks China should allow open competition in its agricultural industry.
The group is expected to release the joint statement when President Donald Trump visits Mexico and Canada next week, The Associated Press reported.
The statement is being coordinated by the G20 Parliamentarians for Global Economy, a group that brings together 40 lawmakers from the countries that make up G20.
“There is an opportunity for our countries to join forces to take on China in international trade. In 2018, the G20 needs to put the common interest of the global economy first and assume that its stated policy principles can be translated into actual action,” the alliance said.
“It is clear that policy disagreements between the U.S. and China have poisoned bilateral trade relations and will ultimately have adverse economic and social effects on our citizens,” the coalition’s leaders said.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
