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US Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo and her Chinese counterpart Wang Wentao exchanged concerns on Thursday, the first over Chinese raids on US consulting firms and the second over Washington’s restrictions on semiconductor technology exports, according to their governments.
Both sides announced no progress in disputes over technology and security issues, though they noted that Raimondo and Wang pledged to strengthen talks on trade issues.
Companies in both countries have been affected by the tightening of trade controls on semiconductor trade and other activities for security reasons. Political relations between the two governments are at their lowest level in decades due to disputes over technology, security, China’s territorial claims and Beijing’s treatment of Hong Kong and ethnic minorities.
Raimondo “raised concerns” about China’s actions against US companies in that country, the official’s office said in a statement. Both discussed the trade and investment environment as well as “areas of possible cooperation,” Raimondo’s office said without elaborating.
Chinese police raided offices of consultancies Bain & Co. and Capvision and an auditing firm, Mintz Group, following the expansion of national security and intelligence laws. Chinese authorities have not explained the reason for the raids.
These police actions have puzzled foreign companies, which the British Chamber of Commerce in China said this week want “more clarity” about compliance with what is required of them. Chinese authorities have said that companies are required to obey the law but without indicating whether they have warned of possible violations.
Wang “raised crucial concerns” about US semiconductor policies, exports and trade, his ministry said without elaborating.
Chinese ruler Xi Jinping claimed in March that Washington is trying to slow China’s development by blocking China’s access to technology to make advanced microprocessors, hampering the ruling Communist Party’s efforts to develop its own semiconductor producers that would be used in 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 that Washington and its allies say Beijing could use to improve China’s weapons as China threatens to attack Taiwan. and is involved in territorial disputes with other neighbors.
The two governments have not yet resumed direct negotiations to end a tariff war sparked by Trump raising taxes on Chinese goods imports over complaints about Beijing’s industrial policy and technology theft.
Wang was scheduled to meet with US Trade Representative Katherine Tai later, according to the Chinese government.
The Chinese minister is in the United States to attend the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation meeting in Detroit.
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