BANNOCKBURN, IL - Enforcement of existing international trade agreements is the main thrust of an industry lobbying effort this spring.

IPC is coordinating a industrywide call on Congress and the Bush Administration to press China to live up to its trade agreements.

The annual event, called Capitol Hill Day, will take place May 18, in Washington, D.C.

The message is that until the administration enforces present WTO commitments, and U.S. trading partners abide by them, Congress should suspend consideration of any new trade agreements, IPC said in a press release.

"It's important to compel our trading partners to abide by the agreed upon rules of international trade, especially China, who continues to manipulate its currency for manufacturing and export advantages," says John Kania, IPC director of government relations. "We hope that by meeting with senators and representatives, we'll be able to influence national policy and legislation as it moves through Congress."

(Doug Bartlett, founding director of the U.S. Printed Circuit Alliance, discussed this topic in his keynote speech at PCB West 2005. Visit http://www.pcdandm.com/pcdmag/pdf/pcbwest05_keynote.pdf.)

For more information on the lobbying effort contact Kania at jkania@ipc.org.