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U.S. Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo plans to go to Beijing “this summer season,” she mentioned Tuesday, with the dates but to be decided.
Such a visit could be the fourth to China by a member of President Joe Biden’s cupboard since final month, with Raimondo following on the heels of Secretary of State Antony Blinken, Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen and local weather envoy John Kerry amid a cooling of bilateral relations.
U.S. officers have forged the journeys as an tried reset in ties with Beijing after almost a 12 months of accelerating tensions that began when then-Home Speaker Nancy Pelosi in August visited the democratic island of Taiwan, which China claims as sovereign territory.
It has since been infected by U.S. bans on the export of high-end microchips to China, which has been led by Raimondo’s Division of Commerce, and February’s high-profile spy balloon incident.
Raimondo advised an occasion on the Wilson Heart on Tuesday that she needed to stroll a nice line in selling American enterprise pursuits in China – America’s third-largest export market after Canada and Mexico – whereas guaranteeing the nation’s nationwide safety pursuits are protected.
“I do plan to journey later this summer season. We’re nonetheless finalizing a date and plans,” Raimondo mentioned. “At a excessive degree, we have to do enterprise with China, wherever we will. We have to promote [American businesses] wherever we will, however we have to defend wherever we will.”
Balancing act
Lawmakers on either side of the aisle in Congress, officers within the U.S. Commerce Division and even the president have mentioned the ban on exports of superior microchips to China is a key nationwide safety precedence, arguing that China is utilizing the chips for navy functions.
The bans – and billions of {dollars} in subsidies for chipmakers in the US – have led to complaints from Beijing, which has known as the strikes examples of a “Chilly Conflict mentality” and protectionism.
However Raimondo mentioned she believed she will be able to nonetheless promote American enterprise in China whereas standing agency on the Biden administration’s chip export bans, even when that may be a tough balancing act.
“There are a lot of industries – meals, leisure,” she mentioned of areas the place America might broaden commerce with China at little danger. “I used to be just lately with [CEO] Bob Iger of Disney – their Shanghai park is rising gangbusters. Starbucks is opening a retailer a day in China.”
She additionally pointed to the “well being and wonder product house” as U.S. industries that may very well be promoted in China whereas nonetheless “working with our allies to disclaim” Beijing the know-how it must construct its navy.
“There is no such thing as a nationwide safety danger to the US promoting espresso and wonder aids to China. It creates jobs in America,” Raimondo mentioned. “Having mentioned that, we have now to guard what we should, and be eyes-wide-open in regards to the threats, and strategic competitors.”
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