Dutch trade minister in China for high-stakes talks on tech war, tariff tensions
Minister is accompanied by representatives from 17 Dutch companies from sectors including logistics, agriculture and hi-tech
Dutch Trade Minister Sjoerd Sjoerdsma departed for China on Monday for a high-stakes, three-day trade mission – amid intensifying tech competition between the US and China – with an agenda that includes a meeting with his Chinese counterpart Wang Wentao and a CEO round table.
Sjoerdsma is accompanied by representatives from 17 Dutch companies from sectors including logistics, agriculture and hi-tech. The mission, which wraps up on Thursday, would also take him to Shanghai, where he was scheduled to meet with Dutch and Chinese companies, according to the statement from the Dutch government.
“Over the past few decades, we’ve built robust trade ties with China, and our goal with this visit is to further strengthen our bilateral trade relationship,” Sjoerdsma said in a statement.
“Raising points of concern is part of that. I look forward to meeting my counterpart Wang Wentao in Beijing and discussing common opportunities and challenges in the area of trade,” he said, vowing to “make every effort” to promote the interests of Dutch businesses in China.