Washington, Oct 4: The US Senate has voted to push a bill that would punish China for manipulating its currency to step up exports.

If the bill became law, it would risk a trade war between the US and China.

The bill would impose tariffs on Chinese imports, as a penalty on its policy of keeping its currency, the Yuan, artificially low.

The low value of the Yuan lowered the value of Chinese goods, giving them an advantage over American-made goods.

The Senate voted 79 to 19 to put across bill that would punish China for manipulating its currency, the Christian Science Monitor reports.

Though it is uncertain that the bill would be passed, jobs lost due to competition with China is a burning issue for voters.

According to the Economic Policy Institute, US has lost 2.8 million jobs as a result of increased trade with China after the latter joined the World Trade Organization in 2001

The 2010 report of the US-China Economic and Security Review Commission had earlier estimated that cumulative US trade deficit with China over the same period amounted to over 1.76 trillion dollars.

"Jobs and wealth are leaving the US and going to China, because China cheats," Senator Charles Schumer said.

But critics, including business groups that benefit from trade with China, argue that the Senate bill could spark off Chinese retaliation and eventually hit US exports.

"This misguided legislation could turn out to be the opening salvo in a trade war with China," National Retail Federation's international trade counsel Erik Autor said.(ANI)