WASHINGTON (AP) — Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo and her Chinese counterpart, Wang Wentao, expressed concern Thursday about the policies of each other’s governments and U.S. restrictions on exports of semiconductor technology following Chinese crackdowns on consulting firms.
Both sides reported no progress on technical and security disputes, but Raimondo and Wang pledged to strengthen exchanges on trade issues.
Firms from both sides are hampered by tight official controls on semiconductor trading and other activities for security reasons. Political ties between the two governments are at their lowest level in decades following disputes over technology, security, China’s territorial claims and Beijing’s treatment of Hong Kong and ethnic minorities.
Raimondo „raised concerns” about Chinese actions against US companies in China, his office said in a statement. It said they discussed the trade and investment environment and „areas of potential cooperation” but gave no details.
Following the expansion of national security and intelligence laws, Chinese police consultants Bain & Co. and reviewed Capvision offices and Mints Group’s duties. Officials did not comment on the raid.
The tests have stymied foreign companies, with the British Chamber of Commerce in China saying this week it wanted „greater clarity” about enforcement. Chinese authorities have said the companies are obliged to obey the law, but have given no indication of whether they are seeing potential violations.
Wang expressed „major concerns” about US policy on semiconductors, exports and trade, his ministry said. It did not provide any details.
Chinese President Xi Jinping accused the U.S. government in March of trying to stifle China’s growth by blocking access to technology to produce advanced processor chips, hampering efforts by the ruling Communist Party to build its own semiconductor manufacturers for smartphones, artificial intelligence and other advanced applications. .
President Joe Biden has tightened restrictions imposed by his predecessor, Donald Trump, on access to design, manufacturing and other technologies used by Washington and its allies to develop Chinese weapons, as Beijing threatens to attack Taiwan. Territorial conflicts with other neighboring countries.
The two governments have yet to resume face-to-face talks on ending a tariff war sparked by Trump increasing import duties on Chinese goods over complaints of Beijing’s industrial policy and technology theft.
According to the Chinese government, Wang was later scheduled to meet with U.S. Trade Representative Catherine Tai.
Wang is in the US to attend the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation meeting in Detroit.