Romney duels with Republican rivals over China economic policy, Iraq

Jan 8, 2012, 5:28 GMT

Manchester, New Hampshire - Republican frontrunner Mitt Romney declared Saturday that he would move immediately to stop what he called China's economic plunder of the US economy if elected president.

His comment provoked a warning from a rival candidate that he would set off a trade war.

Romney also said he would not send US troops back into Iraq, countering a pledge by Texas Governor Rick Perry to do so.

Romney and five other candidates for the Republican nomination debated in New Hampshire, where they are vying for Tuesday's statewide primary election.

'I will tell China, 'you cannot kill our jobs',' Romney declared, adding he would put an end to China's alleged manipulation of its currency to keep prices of exports low.

Jon Huntsman, 52, who served as Democratic President Barack Obama's ambassador to China, accused Romney of planning new tariffs on imports of Chinese goods.

'What he's calling for would lead to a trade war,' he said

That was the nearest thing to a heated exchange all night, and the reluctance of the other candidates to attack Romney, 64, the former governor of Massachusetts, surprised pundits on broadcaster ABC that carried the debate.

They had expected Romney's closest rivals - Texas Congressman Ron Paul, 76, and former US senator Rick Santorum, 53 - to press their cases more forcefully.

The deteriorating situation in Iraq drew a line between Romney and Texas Governor Rick Perry, who lagged so far behind in last week's Iowa caucus that he considered dropping out.

Perry criticized US President Barack Obama for allowing US troops to leave Iraq, and warned that Iran is going to 'move back (into Iraq) at the speed of light.'

He said he would send troops back to Iraq to defend it against Iran. The United States withdrew its last combat troops at the end of last year, under a plan formulated by former president George W Bush.

Romney said he would not rush to send US soldiers into battle without a significant threat to US interests.

'The hurdle to put our troops in harm's way is very, very high,' Romney said.

He focused his criticism on Obama, accusing the president of pushing for a European-style 'welfare state.'

'This election is about the soul of America. We have a president who has put this country on a road to decline ... like Europe,' Romney said.

According to Realclearpolitics, a website that averages national polls, Romney has 44 per cent support in New Hampshire, followed by Paul with 20 per cent. Another 48 state primaries and caucuses lie ahead, including South Carolina and Florida later this month.