US forming 'trade coalition' to confront China: Trump adviser

Published October 4, 2018
White House economic advisor Larry Kudlow talks to the press outside the White House in Washington, DC. —AFP
White House economic advisor Larry Kudlow talks to the press outside the White House in Washington, DC. —AFP

The United States is uniting with other major economies to take on China's unfair trade practices, a senior White House economic adviser said on Thursday.

National Economic Council Director Larry Kudlow also said there was a possibility US President Donald Trump could meet with Chinese President Xi Jinping at the Group of 20 summit in Argentina at the end of November.

“We're moving to what I characterise as a trade coalition of the willing to confront China,” Kudlow told the Economic Club of Washington. “We are talking to the European Union again. We are talking to Japan again.”

The United States, Japan and the European Union last month announced they were jointly considering “possible measures” against the kind of unfair industrial practices widely attributed to Beijing, such as overcapacity, cyber-theft and forced technology transfers.

Trump has slapped duties on more than $250 billion in imports from China, demanding an end to such actions, which US officials say underpin Beijing's efforts to achieve industrial dominance by 2025.

Kudlow also told reporters on Thursday that channels of communication with Beijing remained open but there were currently no plans for more shuttle diplomacy between Washington and Beijing.

“There's some thinking about maybe Presidents Xi and Trump might get together at the G20 in Buenos Aires but that's not a lock. I'm just saying there's some thinking about that,” Kudlow said.

“Our position is, (if) they want to talk, serious talks, significant talks, we're ready any time.”

Opinion

Editorial

Judiciary’s SOS
Updated 28 Mar, 2024

Judiciary’s SOS

The ball is now in CJP Isa’s court, and he will feel pressure to take action.
Data protection
28 Mar, 2024

Data protection

WHAT do we want? Data protection laws. When do we want them? Immediately. Without delay, if we are to prevent ...
Selling humans
28 Mar, 2024

Selling humans

HUMAN traders feed off economic distress; they peddle promises of a better life to the impoverished who, mired in...
New terror wave
Updated 27 Mar, 2024

New terror wave

The time has come for decisive government action against militancy.
Development costs
27 Mar, 2024

Development costs

A HEFTY escalation of 30pc in the cost of ongoing federal development schemes is one of the many decisions where the...
Aitchison controversy
Updated 27 Mar, 2024

Aitchison controversy

It is hoped that higher authorities realise that politics and nepotism have no place in schools.