US Commerce Secretary Visits China

Facts

• US Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo on Monday started three days of meetings in China by meeting in Beijing with Chinese Commerce Minister Wang Wentao, explaining to him it’s “profoundly important” for there to be stable relations between the two nations.¹
• Raimondo expressed concerns about restrictions on American businesses — including Intel and Micron — and she and her Chinese counterpart also talked about Beijing's restrictions on gallium and germanium exports for more than two hours.²
• Raimondo and Wang agreed to begin an “export control enforcement information exchange” which Raimondo said will “reduce misunderstanding of US national security policies.” The group will hold its first in-person meeting Tuesday.³
• In addition to discussing commercial issues, Raimondo, who will also visit Shanghai, will promote Chinese travel and tourism to the US.⁴
• Raimondo’s visit follows similar trips taken by high-ranking US officials — including Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen, Secretary of State Antony Blinken, and climate change envoy John Kerry — in an effort to improve bilateral relations.⁵

Sources: ¹Al Jazeera, ²Reuters, ³The hill, ⁴Associated Press and ⁵Washington Post.

Narratives

• Pro-establishment narrative, as provided by CNN. The US is doing exactly what it needs to do to recreate a favorable environment for policies that will be mutually beneficial to both it and China. Raimondo won’t sacrifice national security while bettering the US’s relationship with China and fostering more transparency. The US has already made a positive gesture by removing some export controls.
• Establishment-critical narrative, as provided by Chinadaily.com.cn. This visit, like prior ones by Biden administration officials, won’t affect much change considering how the US’s actions contradict its words in so many arenas — including current export controls. The Biden administration lacks the courage to stand up to anti-China forces back home to stabilize this important relationship. China will move on unfazed as it continues to engage in a complex, multi-polar world order.