MI Delegation Sends Letter to Bush Urging Protection from Foreign Competition

Washington DC November 27, 2006; The AIADA newsletter reported that last week, in another sign that leaders of the newly elected 110th Congress are supporting the relief efforts of Detroit automakers, all 17 members of Michigan's Congressional delegation penned a letter to President Bush pressing for a heightened ear to Detroit's problems; including, increased trade restrictions on vehicles imported from Asia.

The letter follows the much anticipated November 14 meeting between President Bush and executives from the Detroit Three automakers, during which the automakers called on the President to help find a solution for a plethora of issues such as, health care costs, trade-related issues, and incentives for alternative fuel R&D.

"We would like to find ways, as a bipartisan delegation, to work with your Administration to ensure that American manufacturing companies are competing on a level playing field where we are confident they can succeed," the letter said.

Among requests made by the lawmakers were: incentives for advanced fuel technologies; an infrastructure for alternative fuels (fueling stations, etc); better access to generic prescription drugs; increased investment in health information technology; help combating the rising costs of catastrophic health care; a change in the status of Korea's non-tariff imports to the U.S.; a plan to stop supposed "currency manipulation" by Japan, Korea, and China; and, "the addition of a full-time trade prosecutor, within USTR, who will advocate for American workers and American business when countries close their markets to our products