Three years ago, the head of the Teamsters union, James P. Hoffa, derided China as xenophobic. He said that China did not believe in free trade and that the United States was losing jobs because China was unwilling to buy American goods. But on Friday, with the United States trade deficit with China continuing to balloon, Mr. Hoffa arrived here to visit American-owned factories in China, meet with Chinese union leaders and even dine with top Communist Party officials. ?We felt it was time to get our head out of the sand and engage this enormous country,? Mr. Hoffa said at a news conference.
See "Putting Aside His Past Criticisms, Teamsters? Chief Is on Mission to China", David Barboza, The New York Times, May 20, 2007