BEIJING: China’s Commerce Minister Wang Wentao on Tuesday raised “serious concerns” with his US Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo on Washington’s curbs imposed on its trade, urging it to lift sanctions on Chinese firms “as soon as possible”, Beijing said.
During a phone conversation with US Commerce Secretary, Wang focused on addressing issues surrounding US semiconductor policies and restrictions affecting China’s network-connected vehicles.
The Chinese Commerce Ministry termed the call as “candid, in-depth, and pragmatic,” underscoring the need for clearer definitions of national security boundaries within economic and trade contexts.
Beijing urged the US to prioritize the specific concerns of Chinese companies and improve the business environment for them in the United States.
This communication comes in the wake of significant US tariff increases on Chinese electric vehicles (EVs), EV batteries, and solar cells, which recently took effect.
The levies, aimed at approximately $18 billion worth of Chinese goods, were finalized just weeks before the upcoming US presidential election.
Moreover, the US government is reportedly planning to prohibit the sale of connected vehicles that incorporate Chinese and Russian technology, citing national security concerns.
Washington has also implemented restrictions on technology exports to China, particularly targeting semiconductors and the machinery necessary for their production, in an effort to limit Chinese access to advanced equipment potentially used for military applications.
China has condemned these trade restrictions as “protectionist,” intensifying the ongoing economic tensions between the two countries.
