MNI POLICY: China/U.S. To Meet For Trade Talks Tuesday: MOFCOM

By Wanxia Lin

     BEIJING (MNI) - Officials from China and the U.S. will meet in Shanghai on

July 30 to 31 to carry out the 12th round of trade talks, Gao Feng, spokesman of

the Ministry of Commerce confirmed at a briefing Thursday, without disclosing

details of the arrangements.

     Gao downplayed the fact the talks would be in Shanghai, noting nothing

untoward about not meeting in Beijing, as before.

     Gao said Chinese companies which have inquired about importing U.S.

agricultural products, will sign commercial contracts with U.S. exporters and

such purchases should not be directly linked to the trade negotiation, as such

moves are independent decisions by Chinese companies. 

     Experts appointed by the Customs Tariff Commission will evaluate these

companies' applications for tariff exemptions for these purchases, Gao added.

     "If the U.S. refuses to provide intellectual property protection for

Chinese companies while demanding China strengthens the same, the U.S. is using

double-standards," said Gao, when asked to comment on possible Washington

legislation that would prevent Huawei from seeking damages in U.S. patent

courts.

     "China hopes the U.S. will stop promoting such a ridiculous bill," Gao

emphasized.

     The recent propaganda of China-U.S. economic decoupling by some Americans

will hurt corporate profits of both countries and is against ordinary people's

well-being, said Gao, adding that it will also shock the global supply chain and

the world economy.

--MNI Beijing Bureau; +86 (10) 8532-5998; email: wanxia.lin@marketnews.com

--MNI London Bureau; tel: +44 203-586-2225; email: les.commons@marketnews.com

[TOPICS: M$A$$$,M$Q$$$,MGQ$$$]