Lawmakers Urge Administration Pressure Ahead of China Talks
Senior congressional leaders on July 9 submitted a letter to the Obama administration voicing worries ahead of this week’s U.S.-China Strategic and Economic Dialogue (S&ED) meeting. House Ways and Means Committee Chairman Dave Camp, R-Mich., Senate Finance Committee Chairman Max Baucus, D-Mont., House Ways and Means Committee Ranking Member Sandy Levin, D-Mich., and Senate Finance Committee Ranking Member Orrin Hatch, R-Utah, expressed concern over continued Chinese state dominated economics, trade-distorting subsidies, economic protectionism and a broader lack of market reform.
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The lawmakers claimed the Chinese government has orchestrated trade secret theft and widely-publicized espionage activity targeting the U.S. and U.S. companies over recent years. The letter criticized insufficient Chinese measures to protect intellectual property rights. Chinese regulatory policies and investment restrictions also prevent U.S. market access and currency manipulation continues unabated, according to the lawmakers. The lawmakers called for China to implement financial sector and other structural reforms in an effort to create a level trade playing field. The letter urged the administration to pressure China into acceding to the World Trade Organization Government Procurement Agreement.