Biden to Speak at Port of San Diego About U.S. Trade Action Against China

San Diego, CA — U.S. Vice President Joe Biden was scheduled to speak Wednesday afternoon in San Diego following the announcement Wednesday morning of a new trade enforcement action against China.

In a speech he will deliver at the Port of San Diego in Barrio Logan, Biden will highlight the current administration's "aggressive record on trade enforcement" and discuss actions that can further level the playing field for American workers and businesses, according to a statement from the U.S. Trade Representative's Office.

Since 2009, the Obama-Biden Administration has brought more trade enforcement cases at the World Trade Organization than any other WTO member, and has won every one of these cases that has been decided, according to the statement.

On Wednesday, the U.S. accused China of continuing to charge export duties of 5 percent to 20 percent on raw materials such as copper, graphite, lead and others, despite China agreeing to remove the duties when it joined the WTO 15 years ago, the Wall Street Journal reported. This has the effect of the materials being cheaper within China, but more expensive to importers, U.S. trade officials allege.

The Administration's trade victories thus far have helped remove trade barriers and increase export opportunities worth billions of dollars to American workers, farmers and businesses, U.S. trade officials say.

The Administration has taken similarly tough action through the enforcement of over 300 antidumping and countervailing duty orders, by launching the first labor rights case under a free trade agreement, and by signing into law bipartisan Customs legislation that provides additional tools and bolsters resources for trade enforcement efforts, according to the statement.

The San Diego event is not open to the public.