| U.S. commerce chief leads trade mission to China |
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| Thursday,October 12,2006 Posted: 21:14 BJT(14 GMT) chinadairy |
Seeking more exports to China, Commerce Secretary Carlos Gutierrez and a 25-company U.S. delegation will head for Beijing and Shanghai November 13-17.
"China is already America's fourth largest export market so we've already got strong momentum and we want to keep it going," Gutierrez said in a telephone interview on Wednesday.
The U.S. Commerce Department chief said he will be making his fourth trip to China since taking over the department, though this is the first specific trade mission he has led.
The roster of companies on the trip include heavyweights like Home Depot Inc., auto parts maker Timken Co. and power plant supplier Westinghouse as well as telecommunications company Lucent and vehicle supplier Oshkosh Truck Corp.
Gutierrez said there were issues to be dealt with but insisted the best way to do so was through closer engagement and negotiation.
"There's no question there needs to be progress in gaining more market access, increasing protections for our intellectual property and giving us greater transparency in regulations," Gutierrez said. "That said, we believe the way to make progress is by continuing to engage the Chinese."
The U.S. Commerce chief's visit follows by only weeks a high-profile visit to Beijing by Treasury Secretary Henry Paulson, who pressed Chinese officials in private meetings to let their yuan currency rise in value.
In response to questions, Gutierrez said his mission was not intended to press China on currency issues.
"I don't expect to have discussions on currency because we're focused on commercial and business items," he said. "Besides, it's a lot more effective if we have one voice speaking on currencies and not numerous voices because that can cause problems and misunderstandings with markets."
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Bilateral Visits