The infographic “importantly underscores that none of these critical systems are manufactured by any Chinese company, including CRRC MA or its subsidiaries,” CRRC MA said. “This detailed account of the railcar components provides a much-needed check on the freight rail industry and its special-interest lobbyists in Washington, D.C., as well as CRRC MA competitors who are spreading misinformation and protectionist rhetoric about our products and services.” CRRC MA has been targeted by some legislators on Capitol Hill and by some within the domestic railway/railway supply industry as having an unfair advantage over competitors because it is a subsidiary of publicly traded CRRC Corp. Ltd., the world’s largest manufacturer of passenger rail rolling stock. CRRC MA has been able to bid substantially lower prices on railcar contracts, particularly those tendered by public transportation agencies. The parent company of CRRC Corp. Ltd. is CRRC Group, a Chinese State-Owned Enterprise (SOE) that was earlier in its history supervised by China’s state-owned Assets Supervision and Administration Commission of the State Council. The State Council also owned additional shares via China Securities Finance and Central Huijin Investment. CRRC Corp. Ltd. traces its roots to Chinese government-owned China National Railway Locomotive & Rolling Stock Industry Corporation (LORIC). The “special-interest lobbyists” to which CRRC MA is referring include the Railway Supply Institute (RSI), which sent a letter to Congress on Sept. 5 urging members of the House and Senate Armed Services Committees to preserve, in Conference, existing language in H.R.2500/S.1790, the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) for Fiscal Year 2020, that would prevent federal funds from being used to award a contract or subcontract for the procurement of transit vehicles to priority enterprises owned, controlled, or subsidized by SOEs falling under specific definitions. The post CRRC MA Refuting “Protectionist Rhetoric” appeared first on Railway Age. Continue reading...
