During a visit to China US Commerce Secretary Don Evans
accused the country of moving backwards in opening its markets and warned of
protectionist sentiment increasing in the US.
The tough speech warned China to
allow more access to US businesses if Beijing wanted to retain access to US
markets.
Evans referred to a recent report by the American Chamber of Commerce in
China outlining 14 areas where China needed to improve access. Of these, China had
resolved two, was making progress on seven and had problems in the other five, he said.
He expected the US trade deficit with China to reach US$130 billion this year, up from
$103 billion last year.