Gearing up for Tuesday’s Michigan primary, Republican Mitt Romney gave a speech on economic policy at the Detroit Economic Club, in which he stressed the importance of free trade that is “fair in both directions.”

He criticized the recent change in U.S. vehicle fuel efficiency standards, which he said was “uncoordinated with the domestic manufacturers, and absent consideration of competitiveness.” He also said the pending McCain-Lieberman energy bill will “unilaterally imposes new high energy costs on U.S. manufacturers, with no safety valve.”

McCain, Romney’s chief rival in the state, countered that Michigan’s business and political leaders should “embrace green technologies” and acknowledge that traditional auto manufacturing jobs are gone (WashPost).

In South Carolina, John Edwards called Monday for a ban on coal-fired power plants (AP).