US sheds light on latest China trade talks, raising concerns about ‘unfair, market-distorting industrial policies’

China’s Commerce Minister Wang Wentao spoke with his American counterpart Gina Raimondo on Thursday

Spokesman Gao Feng refused to provide any details of the topics discussed, while the US Department of Commerce did not immediately release a statement

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China confirmed Commerce Minister Wang Wentao spoke with his American counterpart Gina Raimondo on Thursday, with the talks described as a ‘candid and pragmatic exchange of views’. Photo: Xinhua

Published: 9:59am, 11 Jun 2021Updated: 11:28am, 11 Jun 2021

Concerns surrounding China’s “unfair and market-distorting industrial policies” and the “need to level the playing field” for American companies in the country were raised during Thursday’s latest round of trade talks, according to the US Department of Commerce.

China confirmed Commerce Minister Wang Wentao spoke with his American counterpart Gina Raimondo on Thursday, with the talks described as a “candid and pragmatic exchange of views”. China’s statement also said the talks took place at the request of Raimondo.

Commerce Ministry spokesman Gao Feng refused to provide any details of the topics discussed, while the US Department of Commerce did not immediately release a statement about the talks between Wang and Raimondo.

“Secretary Raimondo discussed the Biden-Harris Administration’s focus on economic policies benefiting American workers and expressed US concerns, including China’s unfair and market-distorting industrial policies, the need to level the playing field for US companies in China, and the importance of protecting US technology from unauthorised users,” said the statement which was eventually released on Thursday morning in Washington.

“Secretary Raimondo noted that she looks forward to future discussions with Minister Wang on these issues,” added the statement which referred to the call as “introductory”.

The talks followed similar discussions between Chinese Vice-Premier Liu He and both US Trade Representative Katherine Tai and US Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen since the end of May.

Liu and Tai held a “candid and constructive” exchange on May 27, which was the first time top trade negotiators from China and the US had held talks since Joe Biden entered the White House. Then, on June 2, Liu also had “candid” exchanges on issues of concern with Yellen.

The latest talks follow the White House having announced on Tuesday that the Biden administration will establish a trade strike force, led by Tai, to halt the “hollowing out” of American industry and the erosion of critical supply chains for products such as semiconductors and medicines.

The measures were contained in a 255-page review released on the same day the US Senate passed a sweeping US$250 billion bill to boost US competitiveness in the face of mounting geopolitical tension with China.