US Wants Chinese Economy to ‘Operate Like Ours,’ Says USTR Tai

It’s “absolutely” possible to have a “real” trade negotiation with China, said U.S. Trade Representative Katherine Tai Wednesday on a Carnegie Endowment webinar. What the U.S. really wants from China is for its economy “to operate like ours, and along the assumptions and the norms that we feel are embodied in organizations like the World Trade Organization,” said Tai. “The Chinese have pursued a model that is different from ours.” Until China “chooses a path to have its economy operate more like ours, I think we see that we need to have more effective tools in ensuring that we can continue to compete,” she said. She said those tools include “a combination” of the Section 301 tariffs that are in place, plus making investments in “American competitiveness,” she said.