New Chinese Premier Li Qiang had his first press conference today as China's premier, and tried to send some positive signals about economic development, the private sector and the U.S.-China relationship.

Over the last several weeks, the U.S. Commerce Department has issued preliminary determinations in both the anti-dumping (AD) and countervailing duty (CVD) investigations underway against imports of Chinese freight rail couplers and parts. Final determinations of dumping, subsidization, and injury will be made in the coming months.

Nine months after reports of a security review by U.S./UK investment screening officials, the acquisition by a company with Chinese links of a U.S./UK pharmaceutical company has been approved by both governments.

Last week, the U.S. Department of Treasury penalized two dozen Chinese entities for engaging in transactions with Iranian firms that fall under existing sanctions. Some of these transactions were indirectly tied to Russian attacks in Ukraine, according to the U.S. government.

Last week, the Office of the United States Trade Representative (USTR) submitted to Congress its Budget Justification for Fiscal Year 2024, with China trade issues playing an important role in the document.

This past week, CTM covered the following issues. In China: * New trade data * Two Sessions work reports * China-Belarus meeting and agreements In the U.S.: * U.S-Lithuania meeting discusses China issues * Export licensing data released and new sanctions on Chinese firms * Congressional action on Hikvision sanctions, Chinese IP protection, China&

The Dutch government said that it will introduce export control measures on some semiconductor manufacturing equipment before the summer, in part to "ensure that we maintain our technological leadership" and "reduce our strategic dependence on China." In response, China's Foreign Ministry said that "