Obama Challenges China Auto Subsidies - Voice of America

Trade disputes between the United States and China are heating up, as Washington complains about Chinese auto parts and Beijing files a complaint about a new U.S. tariff law.

China went to the World Trade Organization Monday accusing the United States of unfairly raising tariffs on 30 products, including tires and kitchen appliances.

Beijing's action comes as the U.S. Trade Representative has filed a complaint with the WTO over allegedly improper government subsidies for China's auto industry.

Campaigning Monday in Ohio, President Barack Obama said the Chinese government's subsidies harm assembly line workers in the American Midwest and that "we will not let it stand."

The Democrats and Republicans have been accusing each other of failing to protect U.S. jobs in dealings with China.

Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney said in a statement Monday that the Obama administration's trade case against China is "too little, too late for American businesses and middle-class families."

Ohio is home to many autoworkers, and is seen as a vital political battleground in the race between Mr. Obama and Mr. Romney for the presidency.

The $350 billion U.S. auto and auto-parts manufacturing industry employs 800,000 workers.

Some information for this report was provided by AP and Reuters.