FROM EIR DAILY ALERT

Secretary Ross, Larry Kudlow Positive on Talks with China

Nov. 14, 2018 (EIRNS)—Speaking yesterday at the Yahoo Finance Conference, Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross said he was optimistic about future U.S.-China trade relations. Pointing to the Nov. 1 “constructive” phone conversation between Presidents Donald Trump and Xi Jinping, he said he expects Chinese negotiators to be “coming here shortly to start some informal talks.”

The issue with China, Ross continued, isn’t just about tariffs. If it were, it could be resolved fairly quickly.

“We don’t mind them becoming much more technically advanced, getting into the newer technologies, but they have to do so in a legitimate fashion, not through these other practices.”

Larry Kudlow, Director of the National Economic Council, agrees with Ross. He told CNBC’s “Squawk on the Street” program yesterday, that the administration is

“again talking with China and I think that’s very, very positive. ... We now know that we will in fact be discussing trade at the G20 meeting in Argentina. We didn’t know that before, as a certainty, but there will be many things, security matters and so forth on that list, but trade is going to be one of them.”

Kudlow emphasized that communications with the Chinese are occurring

“at all levels of the U.S. and Chinese government.... So, without even thinking about a prediction on the outcome, we are talking to them again. ... I think it’s better to talk than not talk, so that’s a plus.”