U.S. to push China on indigenous innovation

A top trade official Thursday signaled the White House planned to push Beijing this month on rules that some say prevent U.S. tech companies from selling products to the Chinese government.

At the Computer & Communications Industry Association’s (CCIA) annual Washington Caucus, Ambassador Miriam Sapiro, the deputy U.S. Trade Representative, said diplomats would confront their Beijing counterparts in late May on “indigenous innovation.”

{mosads}Those restrictions essentially force Chinese government agencies to purchase tech equipment only from businesses that develop and register their intellectual property patents locally.

A growing number of tech groups have decried the rules protectionist, especially since the Chinese government represents one of the world’s largest markets for new technology. So, too, have lawmakers from both parties and chambers recently slammed China’s “indigenous innovation” rules as affronts on uninhibited trade.

The United States will make its case for changes when the two states meet for their scheduled strategic economic dialogue next month. Influencing China’s thinking, however, could prove difficult, considering the recent diplomatic difficulties that have chilled Sino-American relations.