The United States and China exchanged concerns over trade issues during a call between Chinese Commerce Minister Wang Wentao and US Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo on Tuesday. Beijing urged Washington to lift sanctions on Chinese firms “as soon as possible,” while the US maintained that national security concerns remain a priority.
The discussion, which Beijing described as “candid, in-depth, and pragmatic,” comes amid heightened trade tensions. The US recently imposed steep tariffs on Chinese electric vehicles (EVs), batteries, and solar cells, with additional levies on other Chinese products also finalized. Washington has also restricted exports of critical technologies, such as semiconductors and the machinery needed to produce them, and plans to ban the sale of connected vehicles incorporating Chinese and Russian technology, citing national security risks.
During the call, Wang expressed China’s “serious concerns” over US semiconductor policies and restrictions on network-connected cars, according to the Chinese Commerce Ministry. Wang stressed the importance of defining national security boundaries in the economic sphere to preserve the stability of global industrial and supply chains.
In response, Raimondo reiterated that US national security is “not negotiable,” according to a statement from the US Commerce Department. She emphasized the US’s targeted approach to security policies, aiming to protect critical sectors while allowing room for healthy trade and investment.
The US also voiced concerns over China’s regulatory transparency, non-market policies, and industrial overcapacity, which US businesses have flagged as obstacles. Beijing, meanwhile, called on Washington to address Chinese companies’ concerns, lift sanctions, and improve the business environment for Chinese firms in the US.
Wang noted that trade relations between the two largest economies should act as a “ballast” for overall bilateral relations and expressed China’s willingness to bring the economic relationship “back on the correct track.” Both sides agreed to maintain an open channel of communication in the coming months.
