Concern over economic competition from China has been a theme of the U.S. race for the White House, with President Barack Obama defending his record and Republican challenger Mitt Romney promising tougher tactics.

Here is a comparison of Romney and Obama's positions on China and other trade issues:

U.S.-CHINA

The U.S. trade deficit with China has swollen through both Democratic and Republican administrations from $6 million in 1985 to a record $295 billion in 2011, reflecting both China's rise as a global manufacturer and the large role that consumer demand plays in fueling the U.S. economy.

The U.S. Trade Representative's office has filed 15 cases against China at the World Trade Organization since March 2004. Eight were brought by the Obama administration and seven by the Republican administration of George W. Bush.

Obama this year created a new trade enforcement unit to bring together resources from across the executive branch to make sure China and other countries follow the rules.