President Obama urged to press China over currency manipulation

US Senator Chuck Schumer has criticized President Barack Obama for not putting enough pressure on China for keeping the value of its currency artificially low.

In an interview with The Huffington Post, the Democrat said the US president’s trade agenda would be fruitless if he does not allow Congress to pass a measure against China, referring to Obama’s plan for trade agreements with Pacific nations and Europe.

“Both the Bush administration and this administration have refused in this instance to protect the American workers by citing China for currency manipulation, even though everyone knows they're doing it,” Schumer said.

The White House has opposed such legislation.

Senator Schumer has so far failed to attach legislation to the bill, Trade Promotion Authority.

The measure was added to a bill on customs and extra enforcement, but it is vulnerable to a presidential veto.

The New York senator said that Obama's broader trade push will be in jeopardy unless he promises not to veto it.

"We are going to tell folks that unless the administration says they won’t veto it, they’re going to lose a lot of votes on TPA, on the regular trade bill," Schumer said, adding that his currency measure is likely to pass as many Republicans support it.

The United States accuses China of lowering the price of its exports by manipulating its currency.

As Washington pressures Beijing over the Chinese currency, China accuses the US of turning the yuan into a scapegoat for its own economic problems.