Simon Lester
China's GATT/WTO Accession: Non-Trade Events Lead to a Pause in the Talks
In our sixth post on documents related to U.S.-China negotiations on China's accession to the GATT/WTO, we describe a draft memo to U.S. Trade Representative Carla Hills regarding the postponement of the eighth meeting of the GATT Working Party on China's accession.
Reports Indicate Australian Coal Exports To China Starting Up Again
As part of a broader thaw in China-Australia trade relations, Australian exports of coal to China are resuming, according to media reports.
U.S. Senators Introduce Legislation To Counter Chinese Economic Coercion
A bipartisan duo of U.S. Senators introduced legislation that is designed to support allies in the face of economic coercion, as well as target adversaries who engage in such practices, with Chinese coercion an implicit focus of the measure.
U.S. House Committee Holds Hearing on Chinese Economic Threats
The U.S. House of Representatives Financial Services Committee held a hearing yesterday on "Combatting the Economic Threat from China." Issues that were discussed at the hearing included: bilateral trade, outbound and inbound investment related to China, Chinese lending, TikTok, and China's presence in Latin American
Chinese and Australian Trade Ministers Hold Virtual Meeting
Australian Trade Minister Don Farrell and Chinese Minister for Commerce Wang Wentao held a virtual meeting today, with an invitation extended to Farrell for an in-person meeting in the near future.
U.S. Senators Introduce Bill To Restrict U.S. Strategic Oil Sales to China
The U.S. House of Representatives recently passed a bill that would prohibit sales of oil from the U.S. strategic petroleum reserve to entities linked to the Chinese Communist Party, and similar legislation has now been introduced in the Senate.
Members of Congress Introduce Taiwan Resolution, Support Taiwan FTA
In late January, Congressman Thomas Tiffany (R-WI) introduced a resolution that "calls on the President to abandon the One China policy in favor of one that recognizes Taiwan as an independent country that is not a part of China." The resolution also "urges the President to