(Molly Bruns, Headline USA) U.S. Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo wasted a lot of time and taxpayers’ money on a visit to Beijing for a meeting with China’s Vice Premier He Lifeng to discuss China’s trade concerns.
The meeting lasted for four and a half hours, and reportedly solved nothing, according to Breitbart.
The meeting reportedly focused on the eastern nation’s trade concerns and neglected to mention any American concerns or contributions.
“The Chinese side expressed its concerns over measures taken by the United States, such as Section 301 tariffs, export controls against China and two-way investment restrictions,” said a report by state-run Xinhua news. “The two sides agreed to continue to maintain communication and support enterprises of the two countries in carrying out pragmatic cooperation.”
Raimondo repeated a pledge by President Joe Biden, restating that the U.S. would not cut economic ties with China.
She did add that China’s intense regulations made it hostile towards foreign investors.
“Increasingly, I hear from businesses China is uninvestible because it has become too risky,” she said.
Raimondo said she took time to voice the concerns of many American businesses that operate in China, such as the recent implementation of “counter-espionage” laws which allow Chinese police raids and gargantuan fines slapped on foreign businesses with little reason.
The Mintz Group, an American firm, received fines from China for allegedly conducting “unapproved statistical work.” The firm was also the target of a state-funded raid in March 2023. Five Chinese nationals who worked for the company faced arrest.
Some speculated that the Chinese Communist Party raided Mintz after they dug too deeply into the party’s falsified economic reports.
Raimondo advocated for greater American independence in their overseas business without worry of Chinese interference or surveillance.
“I was very firm in our expectations. I think I was heard. We’ll have to see if they take any action,” Raimondo said. She admitted that the Chinese leader did not commit to actions during the meeting.
