U.S. Ready to Talk Commerce & Trade with China
Several U.S. officials are traveling to Asia next week.
Compiled by staff
Published: Oct 23, 2009
The 20th session of the U.S.-China Joint Commission on Commerce and Trade will be held next Wednesday and Thursday in Hangzhou, China. U.S. Secretary of Commerce Gary Locke and U.S. Trade Representative Ron Kirk will serve as co-chairs with Chinese Vice Premier Wang Qishan. U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack will participate to address key U.S. trade and economic priorities. The JCCT, established in 1983, is the main forum for addressing bilateral trade matters and promoting commercial opportunities between the United States and China.
During the session American and Chinese officials will participate in a high-level annual plenary meeting and review progress made by a large number of working groups convened throughout the year to bring U.S. and Chinese officials together to engage in detailed discussions of specific trade issues. Locke says it is critical that progress be made on several priority issues, including intellectual property rights protection and enforcement, clean energy, medical devices and pharmaceuticals.
"The JCCT gives the United States and China a venue to consider the breadth of our trade relationship and identify steps that each side can take to ensure that it is fair, sustainable, and mutually beneficial going forward," Kirk said.
Vilsack says that American farmers and ranchers recognize the benefits of our economic engagement with China, but they also rightly seek great equity and balance in our trade relationship.
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