ExclusiveUS, China to cover ‘expansive’ range of topics during Gina Raimondo visit, but no immediate solutions expected
- US commerce secretary will arrive in China on Sunday for a four-day visit, with an ‘expansive’ range of topics expected to be discussed
- China’s ban on the sale of products from US memory chip firm Micron Technology, data security and Beijing’s anti-espionage law are set to be covered
US Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo is expected to raise issues including raids on American consultancy firms and market access during her four-day China visit, according to sources with knowledge of the discussions.
Beijing, meanwhile, will demand further relaxation of US export controls as part of its broad concerns over ongoing containment efforts, they added.
“Secretary Raimondo represents both her respective department and the US government as a senior official, hence the topics to be covered could be expansive,” the person said.
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Raimondo will “be accompanied throughout” her trip, which will start on Sunday, by US ambassador Nicholas Burns, the person added.
Chinese authorities raided the Beijing office of American due diligence firm Mintz Group and the Shanghai office of US consulting giant Bain & Company earlier this year on national security reasons, fanning widespread fears among the foreign business community.
Such investigations also generated confusion, as the world’s second-largest economy has pledged to create a good business environment and vowed to keep investors onshore amid supply chain upheaval.
The steady drumbeat of senior meetings between the US and China increases comfort for collaboration at the working levels