US urged to resist demonizing China
( 2003-08-22 07:28) (China Daily)
With Asia-Pacific economies "where the future is,"' a top US trade official
said Thursday that the United States must "resist demonizing China" on trade
issues as it did with Japan.
Grant Aldonas, under secretary for international trade at the US Department
of Commerce, said at an East-West Centre luncheon that China has been more open
on some issues than either Japan or South Korea. "China is willing to meet us
more than halfway," he said.
He emphasized that this message must be better communicated in Washington,
particularly to Congress, to avoid problems of the past. "We can't slip into the
category of pointing fingers at them. It may not be China, it may be the home
front."
The United States is refocusing attention on the Asia-Pacific, he said. "At
the end of the day, the strongest and most dynamic growth rate is still in the
Asia-Pacific region. We know where the future is. We have to make sure we are
deeply anchored."
While multilateral trade agreements still "deliver the most," he said the
United States will continue to negotiate bilateral agreements. The United States
now has free trade agreements with Singapore and Chile. Talks on a free trade
agreement have moved ahead with Australia, a strong US partner in the war on
terrorism and the war in Iraq. The United States is also discussing trade issues
with other countries including Jordan and Bahrain, he said.
Asked about the growing international perception that politics and trade have
become more connected since the September 11 terrorist attacks, Aldonas said
these issues have been given a "lot of thought." Aldonas said there are times
when you "wield power in your interests... times you must draw the
line."
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