Obama Files Trade Complaint Against China

Barack Obama launched a trade enforcement case against China today, arguing that it had unfairly subsidized its automobile exports—and he didn’t hesitate to make political hay of it. As he announced the policy in Ohio, Obama took a swipe at Bain Capital's record on outsourcing, the New York Times reports."My opponent has been running around Ohio claiming he's going to roll up his sleeves and … take the fight to China," he said. "You can't stand up to China when all you've done is send them our jobs."

The administration is filing the case with the World Trade Organization because, sources tell the AP, all other efforts to get China to address the situation have failed. Romney shot out a statement criticizing the case before Obama even spoke, calling it "too little, too late" and promising to confront Chinese trade practices "from day one," CNN reports. (More Barack Obama stories.)