The US Senate Committee on Foreign Relations conducted a hearing on 9 May on the above subject. It serves to flag up what has gone wrong in America's trade relations in recent decades characterized by what the Committee considers "predatory practices" at the expense of US economic interests and even national security. These include forced intellectual property transfers, trade espionage, cyber security, "unfair" state subsidies, acquisition of US strategic assets, and lack of reciprocity.
These perceived transgressions are put in the context of China's new geopolitical ambitions, including the Belt and Road Initiative, and the Make in China 2025 blueprint. All in all, the international order and American interests underpinned by US leadership is perceived to be under threat, demanding robust defensive and offensive response. The hearing informs much of America's perceived grievances highlighted in the looming trade war against China.
Witnesses for the hearing include Matthew Goodman, Simon Chair in Political Economy of the Center for Strategic and International Studies, Dr Robert Atkinson, President, Information Technology and innovation Foundation. Michael Wessel, Commissioner, US-China Economic and Security Commission, and Ms Kimberly Glas, Executive Director, The Blue Green Alliance, Washington D.C.
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