Representatives from China and the U.S. are getting set to sit down to the latest round of the “strategic economic dialogue.” From AFP:
Both the United States and China have expressed concern over protectionism amid their economic difficulties, and the talks are expected to address ways to promote and protect bilateral investment and counter protectionist pressures.
American companies charge that China’s investment rules are opaque and designed to favor China’s “national champions,” while Beijing questions US moves to impose high farm subsidies and planned US limits on foreign investments.
Meanwhile, the San Diego Union-Tribune reports on another development in U.S.-China trade:
Thanks to the global spread of inflation, Chinese toys, electronics, plastics and other goods are getting a bit more pricey. Rising factory wages, shipping costs and exchange rates are all adding to the price tags of Chinese products – and the costs of U.S. companies that have moved their production and supply lines to China.
“The whole picture doesn’t look good,” said Scott Wang, who heads the China desk at the San Diego World Trade Center.
The rising cost of doing business in China was a hot topic at a round table held last week by the World Trade Center and the local chapter of the American Electronics Association. About 15 high-level executives from local manufacturing firms listened as Wang described China’s rising costs, tighter lending policies and declining export subsidies.
