US Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo warned China that American companies’ patience was running thin, saying they deserved a predictable environment and a level playing field.
The world’s two greatest economies used to be each other’s most important trading partners, but Washington now trades with neighbors Canada and Mexico, while Beijing trades with Southeast Asia.
“China is complicating matters. I made it very clear to China that we needed patience, which is running out among American businesses. They require and deserve a stable environment with a level playing field. And hopefully, China will listen to that message so that we can have a stable and developing commercial partnership,” Raimondo told CBS.
Raimondo stated that US enterprises were facing new obstacles, such as unexplained big fines, raids on businesses, and revisions to counterespionage legislation.
“I was very straightforward, direct, and firm in all of my conversations with my Chinese counterparts. I didn’t hold back. There was no sugarcoating,” Raimondo told CNN.
“They stated that they were unaware of it and that it was not intentional,” she added.
“It was important that I put it on the table and let them know that it’s difficult to build trust with actions like that,” Raimondo said.
