China hits back at US over trade

4 February 2010 08:25 am - 0 - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

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China has hit back at the US a day after President Barack Obama promised to take a tougher line with Beijing over currency and trade.

Chinese foreign ministry spokesman Ma Zhaoxu said the value of the Chinese yuan was not the main reason for the country's trade surplus with the US.

Mr Obama vowed to ensure countries were not giving themselves an unfair advantage against the dollar.

Ties between the US and China have been strained over an arms deal with Taiwan.

Reports of Chinese cyber attacks on US-run websites and a planned visit to the US by the Dalai Lama have also worsened relations.

Trade agreements

US companies have long complained that China's currency policies give their industries an unfair price advantage.

At a meeting with Senate Democrats, Mr Obama was asked whether the US would cut ties with Beijing over continuing trade disputes.

He said he would continue to make sure that China and other countries abided by trade agreements, but warned it would be a mistake for the US to become protectionist.

"The approach that we're taking is to try to get much tougher about the enforcement of existing rules, putting constant pressure on China and other countries to open up their markets in reciprocal ways," he said.

"But what I don't want to do is for us as a country or as a party, to shy away from the prospects of international competition.

Mr Obama also said foreign exchange rates would be monitored.

"One of the challenges that we've got to address internationally is currency rates and how they match up to make sure that our goods are not artificially inflated in price and their goods are artificially deflated in price," he explained.

But Mr Ma said on Thursday that the value of the Chinese yuan was at a reasonable level and that China was not pursuing a trade surplus with the US.

"At the moment... the level of the yuan is close to reasonable and balanced," he said.

"Accusations and pressure do not help to solve the problem."

BBC

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China hits back at US over trade

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