US, China agree to export control information dialogue
THE United States and China have agreed to launch an export control enforcement information dialogue and a new formal working group on commercial issues.
The announcement came after meetings between US Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo and Chinese Commerce Minister Wang Wentao in Beijing on Monday (Aug 28).
Raimondo said the exchange would provide a “platform to reduce misunderstandings of US national security policies”, adding: “We are not compromising or negotiating on matters of national security. Period.”
The first in-person meeting of the export control information exchange will be held at the assistant secretary level at the Ministry of Commerce in Beijing on Tuesday, she said.
“The United States is committed to be transparent about our export control enforcement strategy,” she said. “To show you how real this is, the first meeting of that new information exchange is tomorrow in Beijing. We’re wasting no time.”
China has criticised US efforts to block Beijing’s access to advanced semiconductors through export controls, but Raimondo has said those are not open for debate.
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The White House this month moved to start prohibiting some US investment in sensitive technologies in China and plans to soon finalise sweeping export restrictions on advanced semiconductors adopted in October.
Some Republicans in Congress urged Raimondo earlier this month not to open a formal working group on export control issues.
She noted earlier this year that she had put over 200 Chinese companies on a US export control list and has repeatedly said she will not hesitate to use the power as necessary.
The new commercial issues working group is a consultation mechanism involving US and Chinese government officials and private sector representatives “to seek solutions on trade and investment issues and to advance US commercial interests in China”.
Raimondo, who had a meeting lasting more than two hours with Wang followed by a two-hour lunch, said she wants to address concerns from US businesses that are having difficulties operating in China.
“We’re delivering. We will have that formal communication,” she said.
The working group will meet twice annually at the vice-minister level, with the US hosting the first meeting in early 2024.
The US and China also agreed to convene subject matter experts from both sides for technical discussions “regarding strengthening the protection of trade secrets and confidential business information”, Raimondo said. REUTERS
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