Donald Trump attacks China on trade and urges restraint on Hong Kong protests in speech to UN General Assembly
- The theory that China joining the World Trade Organisation would lead to a wider economic opening has been proven ‘completely wrong’, US president says
- He adds that ‘the world fully expects’ the Chinese government to honour its Hong Kong handover treaty with Britain
US President Donald Trump launched a forceful and lengthy attack on China over its trade policies during his address to the United Nations General Assembly on Tuesday, and urged restraint from Beijing in its handling of ongoing protests in Hong Kong.
The past two decades had proven “completely wrong” the theory that China’s accession to the World Trade Organisation in 2001 would lead to a liberalisation of its economy, the strengthening of protections of private property and the rule of law, said Trump, speaking on the first day of the international body’s annual general debate in New York.
“Not only has China declined to adopt promised reforms, it has embraced an economic model dependent on massive market barriers, heavy state subsidies, currency manipulation, product dumping, forced technology transfers and the theft of intellectual property and also trade secrets on a grand scale,” Trump said as delegates from China looked on.
Trump used the example of a Chinese state-owned company’s alleged theft of US memory chip maker Micron’s designs to argue that China’s pursuit of economic growth was coming at the expense of US interests.
“But we are seeking justice,” he said.
