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US Commerce Chamber Calls for 'Responsible' Export, Investment Restrictions

The U.S. should deploy “targeted and responsible” trade measures to restrict Chinese access to sensitive technologies, not ones that cut off a broad range of transactions between American and Chinese firms, U.S. Chamber of Commerce CEO Suzanne Clark said during an industry conference this week.

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Clark, speaking May 10 during the annual China Business Conference hosted by the Chamber, said China shouldn’t be allowed to access “technologies that could be used to undermine America’s national security,” adding that the chamber supports targeted uses of “export controls, technology restrictions, and scrutiny of outbound investment.”

“But to be clear, not every economic interaction with China poses a national security risk,” she added. “There is still a vast area of commercial opportunity where we can and should engage productively.” Clark said transactions that don’t threaten national security “strengthen the U.S. economy” and “create opportunities” for American companies.

“But perhaps most importantly, and I can’t underline this enough," she said, "if we treat every economic interaction as a risk, we will lose focus on those that truly pose a threat.”