US Commerce Secretary to Visit China Next Week for Talks, According to Reuters

By David Shepardson

WASHINGTON – U.S. Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo is scheduled to visit China next week for discussions with high-ranking Chinese government officials and U.S. business leaders. This trip represents the latest in a series of recent high-profile visits aimed at enhancing bilateral relations.

Despite concerns over reported Chinese hacking activities targeting her department’s emails, Raimondo has remained committed to the visit. National security adviser Jake Sullivan stated that she will convey the message that the U.S. is not looking to sever ties with China but is focused on safeguarding national security. Sullivan emphasized that her visit aims to reinforce the importance of maintaining a constructive economic relationship with China.

Ahead of her trip, Raimondo met with China’s ambassador to the United States, Xie Feng, where they discussed issues crucial to the U.S. and American enterprises, along with the challenges faced by U.S. businesses in China and potential areas for collaboration.

On the same day, China welcomed the U.S. Commerce Department’s decision to lift export control restrictions on 27 Chinese entities, viewing it as beneficial for normal trade between American and Chinese firms. The department recently removed these companies from its “Unverified List,” which designates companies that cannot be trusted to receive sensitive U.S. technology exports due to incomplete on-site checks. The removal of this designation reflects the tangible benefits for companies that cooperate during these evaluations.

Raimondo expressed her eagerness for “constructive discussions” during her visit to Beijing and Shanghai from August 27 to 30. Last week, Chinese officials indicated their support for her upcoming trip. Furthermore, Raimondo highlighted her intention to address significant concerns regarding the targeting of U.S. technology firms and the lack of respect for intellectual property rights, while also seeking avenues for commerce.

This visit follows a recent trip by Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen, who engaged in over 10 hours of discussions with senior officials in Beijing. In a rare demonstration of cooperation between the two nations, the U.S. and China agreed to double the number of passenger flights permitted between them.

Raimondo was among several senior U.S. officials whose emails were reportedly compromised by a China-based group this year, according to Microsoft. In response, the Chinese embassy in Washington stated that determining the source of cyberattacks is complicated and urged against unsubstantiated allegations.

In July, Raimondo indicated that the Biden administration is carefully targeting U.S. export controls on China. Additionally, she had previously met with Chinese Commerce Minister Wang Wentao in May to discuss trade, investment, and export policies, marking the first cabinet-level exchange between the two countries in several months amid ongoing trade and national security disagreements.

Moreover, concerns have been raised about potential threats posed by Chinese cloud companies, with some Republican senators urging her to add these firms to the U.S. entity list, which imposes export controls on foreign companies.