Keeping China Honest

The U.S. Chamber of Commerce welcomed China’s commitments during the U.S.-China Joint Commission on Commerce and Trade (JCCT) meeting in Hangzhou, China to level the playing field for American businesses operating in the country.

“Today’s commitments demonstrate that these negotiations are constructive and beneficial to American economic interests,” said Myron Brilliant, the U.S. Chamber’s senior vice president for International Affairs.  Brilliant highlighted the commitments on government procurement, intellectual property rights enforcement, and market access for medical devices, renewable energy technology, and pork.

“In the eyes of American businesses, the dialogue remains the most important and robust mechanism for resolving bilateral commercial differences,” he said.  “We commend Secretary Locke and Ambassador Kirk for their continuing efforts to ensure that this bilateral trade and investment relationship is equitable.”

The Chamber also welcomed the U.S. government’s focus on addressing China’s surging industrial policies.  China confirmed a pledge from the July meeting of the Strategic and Economic Dialogue to treat products produced by foreign-invested companies in their country as domestic products for purposes of government procurement. 

“This is a positive step toward leveling the playing field for American companies in China,” Brilliant said.  “The Chamber looks forward to China’s submission of a revised offer to join the World Trade Organization’s government procurement accord next year.

“If fully implemented, China’s commitments to crack down on piracy and to strengthen enforcement against unauthorized use of bulk active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs) will also improve the business environment for American companies,” he said. The Chamber also sees opportunities for America’s businesses and workers if China follows through in eliminating local content requirements on wind and renewable energy projects and the creation of a new public-private U.S.-China Energy Cooperation Program to promote clean energy. 

“The U.S. Chamber will continue to urge China to match its words with concrete actions,” Brilliant said.  “They must increase market access, reduce discriminatory regulation, improve IPR protection and enforcement, and help to rebalance its domestic economy away from exports and investment and toward domestic consumption.”