WASHINGTON – Prior to the G20 summit in Buenos Aires and a meeting between President Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping, U.S. Senator Chris Coons (D-Del.), a member of the Foreign Relations Committee, released the following statement calling on President Trump to work with our European and Asian allies to pressure China to change its discriminatory trade practices such as intellectual property theft, forced technology transfer, and cyber hacking of foreign firms.
“In Buenos Aires this weekend, President Trump should exercise leadership and work with those who share our values and our preference for free markets and democratic governance to pressure China to end its discriminatory practices and further open up its economy. By imposing tariffs on trusted allies like Canada, Sweden, Germany, and South Africa under the guise of national security concerns, President Trump has divided us from our closest partners in these efforts. This summit is an opportunity to repair those relationships and work together to pressure China.
“President Trump is right to have zeroed in on China’s unfair trade practices, but a trade war with China isn’t good for the world’s economy over the long term, and it’s not good for the U.S. economy either. The G20 summit in Argentina provides the United States with an invaluable opportunity to end the tariffs and begin a real negotiation to change the way the world trades with China.
“Politically, economically, and ideologically – we’re competing with China more often than we are cooperating. We need to seek areas where we can partner with China. In areas where we cannot, the United States is best served by emphasizing American values and deepening and strengthening relationships with allies and partners around the world.”
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