Obama launches trade complaint against China to woo car industry voters

President Barack Obama today battled back against Republican claims that he has ignored Chinese trade violations by announcing plans to bring a global case against the country’s alleged illegal subsidies for exports of cars and vehicle parts.

White House officials said Mr Obama would unveil the World Trade Organisation case today during campaign appearances in Ohio, perhaps the most important battleground state in November’s election and one where the economy is heavily dependent on the car industry.

Ohio and about six other states are known as swing states — they do not predictably back either party and hold disproportionate power in the election. Both candidates have been visiting them repeatedly.

Mr Obama and Republican rival Mitt Romney hit the campaign trail in the key states this week with the economy and Middle East unrest high on the agenda.

After Ohio the president heads to New York tomorrow, followed by Florida on Thursday, Virginia on Friday and Wisconsin on Saturday.

Mr Romney’s itinerary includes fund-raising stops in the Los Angeles area today, where he will try to appeal to Latino voters.