CEDAR RAPIDS (AP) --- U.S. Commerce Secretary Don Evans said the economy is in good shape, but he said he was concerned about the U.S. trade imbalance with China as he spoke at an Iowa economic forum on Thursday.

"This is the best economic environment I've seen in my lifetime," Evans told about 200 small business owners and managers at the forum held at Kirkwood Community College.

Evans said the current 5.6 percent national unemployment rate in the U.S. is below the average of the 1970s, the 1980s, or the 1990s. He said more Americans are employed than ever before, and home ownership is at an all-time high.

Iowa was Evans' first stop following a global tour that included a visit to Western China, an area of high unemployment.

Trade with China, including respect for intellectual property rights and compliance with trade treaties, is a big concern, Evans said.

"We've got to be diligent about demanding enforcement and getting results, and if we don't get results, imposing penalties," he said.

The current administration imposed 18 antidumping orders against China, Evans said, more in the past three years than in any previous four-year administration.

Evans said in his visit to China, he was amazed to find hundreds of thousands of acres of agricultural fields with few tractors or other automation. But he was impressed with China's determination to succeed in technology.

He mentioned the massive U.S. trade imbalance in favor of China, and growing concerns about the loss of manufacturing jobs to that nation's booming economy. He said America should not shy away from growing international trade competition.

"Competition has been the key to our success," he said.

While speaking on the U.S. economy, Evans did not mention the decline of manufacturing jobs over the past three years but did say "there are areas we need to work on."

He said those areas are more than offset by the tax and regulatory reforms implemented during the past three years.

"Put it all together collectively, and look at all the pro-growth programs and policies that we have put in place," Evans said.

Appearing with Evans were Sen. Charles Grassley, R-Iowa, chairman of the Senate Finance Committee who organized the economic forum, and Rep. Jim Leach, R-Iowa.

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