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U.S. Ambassador David Perdue told business and government
leaders in Beijing that China should be congratulated on
becoming a manufacturing powerhouse, but echoed fears in Europe
and elsewhere that China's exports pose a threat to factories
and jobs in other countries.
“This is not healthy for the rest of the world,” he said in
remarks to an annual dinner of the American Chamber of Commerce
in China.
Perdue was appointed by U.S. President Donald Trump, who has
imposed tariffs on imports from China and many other countries
in a bid to reindustrialize and boost factory jobs in the United
States.
China responded with tariffs on imports from the U.S. An ensuing
tit-for-tat spiral drove tariffs sky-high before the two sides
agreed to a series of 90-day truces. In late October, both
countries agreed to a one-year pause when Trump met Chinese
leader Xi Jinping in South Korea during a gathering of
Asia-Pacific nations.
“They’ve been able to create the space we’ll need to work
through a lot of tough, complicated issues,” Perdue said.
China had reaped the benefits of free trade with the rest of the
world, while American companies have faced a series of barriers
to the Chinese market over the years, the U.S. envoy said.
“America’s not looking for a trade war, but we are looking to
get fair, free, reciprocal trade,” he said.
Perdue said that work is underway for a visit by Trump to China
in 2026, and that Xi is expected to visit the U.S. this year
too. Trump has said he will come to China in April, but neither
government has confirmed a date.
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