Officials say US and China will hold discussions on export controls

On Monday, U.S. Secretary of Commerce, Gina Raimondo, announced that she and her Chinese counterpart have reached an agreement to discuss export controls in an effort to ease tensions between the two prominent global economies.

In a statement released on Monday, Raimondo stated that she met with Wang Wentao, the Minister of Commerce for the People’s Republic of China. They have agreed to take concrete steps that will further deepen bilateral discussions.

One of the steps agreed upon by Raimondo and Wang is the establishment of an “export control enforcement information exchange,” which will have its first in-person meeting on Tuesday. The purpose of this exchange is to reduce misunderstandings about U.S. national security policies.

Additionally, Raimondo announced the formation of a “commercial issues working group,” consisting of government and private-sector officials. This group will focus on finding solutions to trade and investment issues and promoting U.S. commercial interests in China. The working group is scheduled to have its first meeting in early 2024 and will convene twice a year thereafter.

Export controls have been a major source of frustration for Chinese officials. Washington has taken various actions to boost domestic semiconductor production while restricting China’s access. In the past year, the U.S. administration banned Chinese companies from purchasing U.S. semiconductors without a license, a move that has faced criticism from Chinese government officials. The bipartisan CHIPS Act also aimed to enhance domestic semiconductor production and discourage investments in Chinese technology by blocking federal funds recipients from investing in Chinese technology.

Recently, the White House introduced further restrictions, preventing Americans from investing in specific Chinese sectors due to national security concerns.

During the meeting with Wang, Raimondo emphasized opportunities to promote economic exchange that aligns with U.S. interests and values, according to the readout from the Commerce Department.

She reiterated the administration’s commitment to safeguarding national security through a targeted approach to export controls, focusing on technologies with clear impacts on national security or human rights, rather than containing China’s economic growth.

Raimondo told reporters at the U.S. Ambassador to China’s residence that the United States is committed to transparency regarding its export control enforcement strategy.

While Raimondo emphasized that national security matters are non-negotiable, she described the dialogue as an opportunity to increase transparency.

She also defended Washington’s efforts to boost domestic semiconductor production and ensure a stable supply, emphasizing that these steps were not intended to hinder China’s economic progress but rather encourage healthy competition and cooperation that aligns with international rules.

Raimondo’s meeting with Wang follows visits from other Cabinet officials in recent months, including Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen in July, and a meeting between President Biden and Chinese President Xi Jinping in November 2022.

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