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Trade Talks: Don’t Look Now, But China Just Blinked On Technology Theft
Hotair ^
| 03/03/2019
| Jazz Shaw
Posted on 03/03/2019 3:09:04 PM PST by SeekAndFind
There’s been no end to the complaints on the left (and portions of the right as well) about President Trump’s use of tariffs to attempt to craft better trade deals for the United States. The results have been a mixed bag thus far, with some efforts delivering results (see: Mexico and Canada) and others seeming to fall short (the auto industry is a good example there). But some of the greatest consternation on display around punditry panels has been caused by the President’s aggressive stance toward China, arguably our largest trading partner. Trump’s complaints about their habitual theft of technology from the west seem to have sunk in over in Beijing because they are currently working on a law to supposedly curtail this type of abuse and end the tariff battle. (Associated Press)
In an unusual step, Chinas ceremonial legislature is due to endorse a law meant to help end a bruising tariff war with Washington by discouraging officials from pressuring foreign companies to hand over technology.
The battle with Chinas biggest trading partner is overshadowing the National Peoples Congress, the countrys highest-profile event of the year. It brings 3,000-plus delegates to the ornate Great Hall of the People in Beijing for two weeks of speeches, meetings with senior leaders and political ritual to endorse the ruling Communist Partys economic and social welfare plans.
A gathering of noncommunist groups held at the same time brightens Beijings drab winter, drawing tech billionaires, movie stars and ethnic minorities in distinctive traditional dress.
On the surface, at least, this looks like good news for Donald Trump. He hit China with a quarter of a trillion dollars in tariffs last July and our two nations have been wrangling over it ever since. This new law is being pushed by none other than President Xi Jinping himself, so it looks as if it should pass with ease, giving Trump another victory he can tout during his speeches.
But before we get too carried away with popping champagne corks, we need to keep in mind China’s history when it comes to “importing” western technology. Based on the description provided by the Associated Press, this new law isn’t exactly worded in a way that would be locking up any private or government entities found to be reverse engineering or simply stealing western technology and producing it themselves in defiance of patent rights. The Chinese are still denying that they steal technology or pressure companies to hand it over. And yet this law is designed to “discourage officials from pressuring foreign companies to hand over technology.”
“Discourage?” Does that mean they’ll be getting a strongly worded letter the next time they do it? The American Chamber of Commerce in China is quoted as describing the law as a positive “step forward” but they’re worried about how it would be enforced. The EU Chamber of Commerce similarly expressed concerns, calling the law vague and saying that forbidding pressure though “administrative methods” still leaves the Chinese with all sorts of other types of pressure they could apply.
It’s an accomplishment to see China even talking about cutting back on technology theft, so Trump has at least gotten the ball rolling. Whether or not the Chinese actually live up to any commitments in this area will remain to be seen.
TOPICS: Business/Economy; Foreign Affairs; News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: boycotts; canada; china; energy; hydrocarbons; maga; mexico; nafta; opec; sanctions; tariffs; technology; trade; usmca
To: SeekAndFind
Theyll just keep on stealing but do it more on the down low. Promises from China mean NOTHING.
2
posted on
03/03/2019 3:22:10 PM PST
by
House Atreides
(Boycott the NFL 100% — PERMANENTLY)
To: SeekAndFind
This will make absolutely no difference. The Chinese will go on exactly as they are now.
This is to make Trumps friends the Dems blink.
3
posted on
03/03/2019 3:43:43 PM PST
by
Agatsu77
To: SeekAndFind
No mention of patents ...
4
posted on
03/03/2019 3:45:24 PM PST
by
PIF
(They came for me and mine ... now it is your turn ...)
To: House Atreides
>Theyll just keep on stealing but do it more on the down low. >Promises from China mean NOTHING.
Absolutely true. Their extensive spy network in the United States will continue to do their dirty work.
5
posted on
03/03/2019 3:46:40 PM PST
by
ConsCA
To: AdmSmith; AnonymousConservative; Arthur Wildfire! March; Berosus; Bockscar; cardinal4; ColdOne; ...
China will have less leeway after the election.
6
posted on
03/03/2019 5:12:32 PM PST
by
SunkenCiv
(and btw -- https://www.gofundme.com/for-rotator-cuff-repair-surgery)
To: House Atreides
“Promises from China mean NOTHING.”
Correct.
Even IF in a ratified Treaty, they mean precisely...
Nothing.
The Chinese have not deviated from their proven, most effective method.
Resist until they tire of pushing. Then continue to march toward the goal.
7
posted on
03/03/2019 5:17:03 PM PST
by
Mariner
(War Criminal #18)
To: SeekAndFind
China just set the biggest recorded trade surplus with the United States, in all of recorded history.
Biggest EVER. By any country, with any other country.
An all-time world record.
8
posted on
03/03/2019 6:03:11 PM PST
by
cba123
( Toi la nguoi My. Toi bay gio o Viet Nam.)
To: SeekAndFind
‘Splain to me how we can expect Communist China to uphold tenants of ‘Property’ when they are in fact ‘communist’!!!!
9
posted on
03/03/2019 6:06:58 PM PST
by
griswold3
(Just another unlicensed nonconformist in a dangerous Liberal world.)
To: SeekAndFind
The article is better than the headline...
Here's a sad tidbit, hate to see bourbon demand go up!
"zerohedge @zerohedge
It's no longer possible to separate reality from parody: CHINA WOULD BUY 50MLN LITRES OF JACK DANIELS UNDER TRADE DEAL" 3:08 PM - 3 Mar 2019
No Trump! We need our bourbon to survive Pelosi, Chucky, etc!
10
posted on
03/03/2019 8:07:57 PM PST
by
mrsmith
(Dumb sluts: Lifeblood of the Media, Backbone of the Democrat/RINO Party!)
To: ConsCA
Their extensive spy network in the United States will continue to do their dirty work.
who needs spy network when you the Clintons - semi sarcasm
To: SunkenCiv
Trump/s got 6 months, or so, before he has to worry about election. Get through the rough part with China now, shoulfn’t put it off.
12
posted on
03/03/2019 8:11:07 PM PST
by
mrsmith
(Dumb sluts: Lifeblood of the Media, Backbone of the Democrat/RINO Party!)
To: mrsmith
The Chinese are about to pull some crap, probably pertaining to Pakistan/India/Kashmir, and want preferment. If they really want preferment, they'll remove the dwarf from power in Pyongyang and get rid of the nork nukes.
13
posted on
03/03/2019 9:12:33 PM PST
by
SunkenCiv
(and btw -- https://www.gofundme.com/for-rotator-cuff-repair-surgery)
To: SunkenCiv
I see China’s hand in the Kashmiri fireworks too.
It’s essential to China’s connection to the ME.
14
posted on
03/03/2019 9:22:42 PM PST
by
mrsmith
(Dumb sluts: Lifeblood of the Media, Backbone of the Democrat/RINO Party!)
To: mrsmith
The Chinese have some biz interests in Afghanistan and in a few spots in Africa, but are archrivals of India, and Pakistan is a sort of half-assed client state. Obviously the Chinese have their own internal problems with muzzies (which they are dealing with as is their wont) so in the long run, their alliance of convenience with the Paki pseudostate can't endure. The more likely pivot will be to Iran, and that will probably happen soon.
15
posted on
03/03/2019 9:39:49 PM PST
by
SunkenCiv
(and btw -- https://www.gofundme.com/for-rotator-cuff-repair-surgery)
To: SunkenCiv
“Pakistan is a sort of half-assed client state.”
Becoming less ‘half-assed’ by the day.
Iran’s worth to China depends on accessibility. No path through Kashmir means Iran is not eorth much to China.
Actually I’m all in favor of China taking lead in the ME. They can profit there, whereas we no longer can.
16
posted on
03/03/2019 9:48:17 PM PST
by
mrsmith
(Dumb sluts: Lifeblood of the Media, Backbone of the Democrat/RINO Party!)
To: mrsmith
The path from China to Iran runs through Afghanistan, or through Pakistan, or Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, and Turkmenistan. Kashmir doesn't enter into it.
17
posted on
03/03/2019 11:36:00 PM PST
by
SunkenCiv
(and btw -- https://www.gofundme.com/for-rotator-cuff-repair-surgery)
To: SunkenCiv
The Kashmir valley is in Pakistan, for now. China and Pak have been rebuilding a road through there.
Search “CPEC kashmir”.
It is more for other Middle East trade than Iran though.
Connecting China to a Chinese deepwater port in Pak.
18
posted on
03/04/2019 6:03:30 AM PST
by
mrsmith
(Dumb sluts: Lifeblood of the Media, Backbone of the Democrat/RINO Party!)
To: mrsmith
The Kashmir valley is under Indian control. I don’t fault the Chinese for wanting a route to the oil supply that is both more direct and overland. The Chinese suggested rail links into Indian Kashmir, but neither side wanted it. The Balochs (nominally part of Pakistan) are not fired up about it either.
https://indianexpress.com/article/research/cpec-the-bumpy-new-trade-route-between-china-and-pakistan-4373203/
[snip] Consisting of a number of road, rail and pipeline ventures, the CPEC connects Xinjiang in Northwestern region of China with Pakistans Gwadar port on the Arabian sea, going over the Pakistan occupied Kashmir territory of Gilgit-Baltistan and the disputed region of Balochistan. [/snip]
19
posted on
03/04/2019 11:31:05 AM PST
by
SunkenCiv
(and btw -- https://www.gofundme.com/for-rotator-cuff-repair-surgery)
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