Ambassador Nominee Locke Vows to Push China on IPR, Currency, Etc.
At a May 26, 2011 Senate Foreign Relations Committee hearing on the President’s nomination of Commerce Secretary Locke to be the U.S. Ambassador to China, Committee members questioned Locke on a variety of issues, including his plans for protecting U.S. intellectual property, encouraging Chinese currency reform, and addressing other trade issues of concern.
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Nominee Commits to Seeking Progress on IPR, Currency, Etc.
In both his written and verbal testimony, Secretary Locke committed to:
- IPR, innovation - monitoring China’s progress on its commitments to (i) improve intellectual property protection and enforcement and (ii) delink innovation policy from procurement preferences. Locke specifically stated that he would monitor China’s pledge to ensure that government (including state-owned) enterprises purchase legitimate software.
- Currency reform -- working to ensure China moves further and faster on currency reform.
- Market access - working to ensure U.S .companies have fair and open access to China.
- Domestic consumption - encouraging China to focus less on exporting and more on stimulating domestic consumption.
Witness testimony, Committee opening statements, hearing web cast available here