TKC BREAKING NEWS!!! MISSOURI SEN. CLAIRE McCASKILL'S LATEST ELECTION 2012 ADVERT TALKS CHINA TRADE!!!

Check the latest advert from Sen. Claire that goes beyond the culture war and talks a bit of economic policy that might impact locals. The presser that accompanies the advert cites tough Missouri issues with China and recent trade talk that's exceptionally important during the upcoming era of Chinese hegemony.

Take a look:

McCaskill for Missouri Airs New Ad During Cardinals NLCS Game

Ad Highlights Claire’s Work to Stop China’s Unfair Trade Practices from Killing Missouri Jobs

St. Louis, Mo.-- McCaskill for Missouri 2012 is set to air a new ad, titled “China,” during Game 1 of the Cardinals’ National League Championship Series. The ad highlights Claire’s work on behalf of Missouri companies hurt by unfair trade practices employed by Chinese companies. After an investigation by the St. Louis Post-Dispatch about Chinese companies circumventing U.S. duties, Claire took action on behalf of Missouri businesses to level the playing field. Claire fought to save Missouri jobs by writing a letter to Obama Administration officials demanding that they properly enforce trade policies that combat “duty evasion,” then testified in front of the U.S. Senate Finance Committee on behalf of Missouri Companies and was a co-sponsor of the ENFORCE Act in Senate.

Watch the ad here.



“Our government needs to be doing everything it can to hold China accountable and protect Missouri jobs,” said Claire McCaskill. “Missourians want their Senators working across the aisle to solve problems and find solutions that will bring jobs back to Missouri. While Todd Akin is allergic to compromise, I’m proud that I’ve been able to work across the aisle and protect Missouri jobs. For as long as I serve in the Senate, I promise to listen to the needs of Missouri companies and stand up for them against anyone who is working to send our jobs overseas.”

This ad is a stark example of the clear contrast in this election between Claire, a Missouri-style moderate who will put party politics aside to fight for Missouri’s working families, and Todd Akin, an extreme candidate who is allergic to compromise and has vowed to not work with anyone who does not share his extreme principles.

"China"

Claire: Being an auditor and a prosecutor taught me how to stand up to bullies. Especially when it's China, and it's costing Missouri jobs.

Narrator: When Missouri companies complained that China was violating our trade laws and costing Missouri jobs, Claire went to work testifying on their behalf and co-sponsoring bipartisan legislation to catch Chinese companies evading our trade laws.

Claire: I am Claire McCaskill and I approve this message because our trade policies need to work for America but they have to work for Missouri.

BACKGROUND:

Post-Dispatch Investigation: Duty Evasion by Chinese Companies Hurt Missouri Businesses. In March 2011, the St. Louis Post-Dispatch reported that Missouri companies were being harmed when Chinese companies evaded duties leveled on their products. The story focused on the experiences of Mid-Continent Nail of Poplar Bluff, Leggett & Platt of Carthage, and M&B Metal Products of Alabama. All three companies had won cases before the U.S. International Trade Commission where they argued that their Chinese competitors were illegally dumping cheap products into the U.S. market and injuring U.S. companies in the process. However, even after the ITC leveled duties and tariffs against Chinese imports in an effort to protect U.S. manufacturers, those duties went uncollected due to lax enforcement by the U.S. government and “duty evasion” by Chinese companies – a practice whereby Chinese companies circumvent U.S. duties by routing their exports through third party nations, like Hong Kong and Malaysia. [St. Louis Post-Dispatch, 3/13/11]

McCaskill Demanded Answers from the Obama Administration on Failure to Enforce Duties Against Chinese Imports. “Sen. Claire McCaskill is demanding that Obama administration officials who oversee imports show up in her office to explain the failure to stem the flow of fraudulently imported Chinese goods. Citing a Sunday Post-Dispatch investigation, McCaskill, D-Mo. asserted in a letter late Thursday that American businesses lose confidence in trade policies and government when federal agencies fail to enforce the law. ‘I am extremely frustrated that foreign companies are still flouting U.S. law despite protests from U.S. companies,’ she wrote. The letter was addressed to Alan Bersin, commissioner of Customs and Border Protection, and John Morton, director of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement. Both agencies are part of the Homeland Security Department. The Post-Dispatch reported that companies from Missouri and elsewhere have failed to get cooperation from Customs officials after winning their trade cases in front of the U.S. International Trade Commission.” [McClatchy, 3/18/11]

McCaskill Testified on Behalf of Missouri Companies Injured by Duty Evasion. After learning that Missouri companies like Mid Continent Nail and Leggett and Platt were being exploited by cheap Chinese imports, McCaskill testified in front of the U.S. Senate Finance Committee on the lack of enforcement by U.S. agencies like the Commerce Department and Homeland Security Department’s Immigrations and Customs Enforcement (ICE) office. "Missouri jobs are at stake here," said McCaskill, citing companies in the state that have been affected. "We are complicit in allowing our federal government to ignore laws that are doing more harm in my state, in terms of job creation, than many other things that we spend more time on" to try to create work. [St. Louis Beacon, 5/5/11]

McCaskill Cosponsored the Bipartisan ENFORCE Act. In May 2011, McCaskill cosponsored the Enforcing Orders and Reducing Customs Evasion (ENFORCE) Act of 2011 along with Republican Sens. Roy Blunt, Rob Portman, Jeff Sessions and Olympia Snow, legislation to improve the nation’s ability to combat foreign trade cheaters evading U.S. trade laws. The ENFORCE Act would establish a rapid-response timeline by which U.S. Customs and Border Patrol would be required to respond to allegations of duty evasion. During the course of its investigation, CBP would take steps to ensure that if it determines import duties are owed, that those duties will be collected. [Thomas.gov, S. 1133]

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