In 2018, Drake testified before the U.S.-China Economic and Security Review Commission as a trade & globalization policy specialist of AFL-CIO, where she discussed issues such as “China’s mercantilist approach to trade” and “unfair trade practices.” Criticizing U.S. response then as “inadequate” and “ill-considered,” Drake recommended a number of domestic and multilateral actions to address trade challenges, including, among others, an increase in self-initiated cases on unfair trade practices, channels and measures to address predatory foreign investment, enforceable international rules to discipline currency manipulation and anti-competitive behavior of SOEs, commitments to invest in U.S. infrastructure and the establishment of enforceable, internationally-recognized labor rights. Earlier in March 2018, Drake was cited by Politico as saying that tariffs are a useful weapon against China and “trade enforcement is always a good idea.”