Chinese media warns against bullying as US trade team arrives

Chinese media warned against U.S. bullying as a delegation of Trump administration officials arrived in Beijing for a summit on U.S.-China trade relations. 

Reuters reported on Wednesday that the state-owned newspaper China Daily warned in an editorial that Beijing would “stand up to the U.S.’ bullying as necessary.”

{mosads}“The U.S. wants greater access to China’s market, but it should not use trade actions as a battering ram to force China to open its doors. It is already in the process of opening them wider,” the newspaper said. 

The editorial comes amid tense trade relations between Beijing and Washington, which ramped up after President Trump revealed his plan to impose tariffs on up to $150 billion worth of Chinese goods.

The tariffs are intended to punish China for policies the U.S. says make American companies give up their intellectual property to Chinese competitors. 

The two countries were supposed to discuss trade relations last February during a visit from senior Chinese economic adviser Vice Premier Liu He, but the administration announced the new tariffs as Liu arrived in Washington. 

Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin, Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross, Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer, White House economic adviser Larry Kudlow and trade and manufacturing adviser Peter Navarro are in Beijing to meet with Chinese officials on trade on Thursday and Friday. 

Despite tensions, Mnuchin said he felt hopeful about the talks. 

“I’m cautiously optimistic about the meetings. I don’t really want to predict what’s going to happen, what’s not going to happen,” Mnuchin told Fox Business. “We’re going to go over there and have frank discussions.”