WASHINGTON, D.C. — House Ways and Means Chairman Kevin Brady (R-TX) and Trade Subcommittee Chairman Dave Reichert (R-WA) issued the following statements regarding today’s announcement that the United States is launching a new World Trade Organization (WTO) enforcement action against China for providing subsidies to Chinese aluminum producers, which causes global overcapacity in aluminum.

“Today, the Obama Administration began an enforcement action against China for failing to abide by its WTO commitments in a key sector,” said Chairman Brady. “There is no doubt that China’s unfair practices create huge global overcapacity, which hurts U.S. companies and their employees. Last spring, our Committee took the initiative to get the facts by tasking the International Trade Commission to conduct a full analysis of whether unfair trade practices, including Chinese practices, are hurting the U.S. aluminum industry. I look forward to working with the new Trump Administration to step up our efforts to enforce our trade agreements against unfair trade practices by China or any other country that doesn’t play by the rules. When our trading partners play by the rules, America wins.”

“Today’s announcement is a first step toward ending China’s illegal subsidization of its aluminum industry. In my home state of Washington, we have seen firsthand the impact of the overproduction of aluminum created by illegal Chinese subsidies with the idling of a smelter in my district,” said Rep. Reichert. “Last spring, I requested that the International Trade Commission analyze the factors facing the global competitiveness of the U.S. aluminum industry, including China’s practices. We must hold our trading partners accountable for their commitments to us.”