US ties market access to China's "progress" on key issues

US Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner said the US would be willing to open its market to China, particularly in the technology sector, if the country makes progress on certain issues, Reuters reported. “We are willing to continue to make progress on these issues, but our ability to do so will depend in part of how much progress we see from China on issues that are important to us,” Geithener said on Thursday. He mentioned raising domestic bank deposit rates, further renminbi appreciation and the fair treatment of US companies operating in China. Geithner’s comments came ahead of the US-China Strategic and Economic Dialogue meeting next week in Beijing. Some Congressional members have pressured the Obama Administration to take a harder line against alleged unfair trade practices. “Plain and simple, we cannot allow China to continue its unacceptable trade practices,” said Dave Camp, head of the House of Representatives Ways and Means Committee.