Lamon also “expresses concerns about export controls” during his visit to China.
China Wang Wentao “Discussion of US investment restrictions, etc.”
Micron appoints head of Chinese government relations
from the UK… Prospects for improving relations with China
A meeting on the 28th between U.S. Commerce Secretary Gina Lamondo and Chinese Commerce Secretary Wang Wentao, who are visiting China, agreed to reduce unnecessary conflicts between the U.S. and China over common trade, but left a gap on key issues such as downsizing-extreme semiconductors and export control of rare minerals.
At the meeting, the two sides agreed to set up a working group at the vice ministerial level that would meet twice a year as a channel of dialogue to discuss trade issues on a regular basis. In addition, on the 29th, the first meeting on the exchange of information on export control was held at the Ministry of Commerce of China with the participation of the vice ministers of the two countries.
Lamondo stated that the exchange of information on export controls is not a political dialogue, but is “a dialogue aimed at increasing transparency and clarifying what we are doing regarding export control enforcement.”
During his meeting with Van, he also stressed that “export controls are very narrow and only target technologies that have clear national security and human rights implications,” the US Department of Commerce said. In addition, he added that he conveyed various concerns from the United States, including actions against US semiconductor manufacturers Intel and Micron, which have been targeted by China.
After the meeting on the 28th, the Chinese Ministry of Commerce stated, “Director Wang Wentao spoke about the US Commerce Act, Section 301 (Super 301), semiconductor policy, investment restrictions, and sanctions against Chinese companies.”
The U.S.-China trade ministers’ meeting appeared to be focused on conflict resolution to reduce unnecessary clashes between the two countries amid China’s poor economic situation. Before his visit to China, Minister Lamondo stressed several times that “there are no compromises or negotiations on national security issues,” which is interpreted as a remark from Republican hawks criticizing the Joe Biden administration for a more aggressive stance in its trade policy. with China. .
Meanwhile, US semiconductor company Micron has appointed a UK man as head of Chinese government affairs and has begun to improve relations with Beijing. Three months have passed since it was targeted by Chinese sanctions, which is being interpreted as an extension of a 4.3 billion yuan (about 770 billion won) investment plan to expand the Xi’an semiconductor packaging plant announced in June.
The South China Morning Post (SCMP) reported on the 29th, “On the 28th, Micron has appointed Jeff Lee (Li Xinming), who has over 30 years of experience in public service and business, as the head of the China Government Affairs Office. » After working in the Chinese government, Li Xinming served as Senior Vice President of SK China. The SCMP analyzed: “The announcement of Li’s appointment comes amid growing expectations that Secretary Lamondo’s visit to China will ease U.S.-China tensions over technology and trade.”
In the midst of this, President Biden will visit India and Vietnam on the 7th and 10th of next month. President Biden’s visit to both countries is interpreted as one of the strategies to contain China by strengthening relations with Southeast Asian countries after the Korea-US-Japan summit. Previously, Politico and others have reported that President Biden will hold a summit meeting with Communist Party of Vietnam General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong in Hanoi on the 10th of next month and sign a strategic partnership agreement.
Correspondent Lee Jae-young in Washington DC and Ryu Ji-young in Beijing