China tries to defuse trade pressure from U.S., Europe

Officials defend record as benefit to world amid criticism of market access, tech policy

BEIJING — China’s government defended its trade record as a benefit to the world in a new effort Thursday to defuse U.S. and European pressure over market access and technology policy.

A Cabinet report repeated promises to cut tariffs and open more industries to investment. But it didn’t address complaints about plans to create Chinese global technology competitors that are at the heart of a spiraling trade dispute with U.S. President Donald Trump.

China’s growth “has brought great opportunities to trading partners all over the world,” a deputy commerce minister, Wang Shouwen, said at a news conference.

The report highlights the clash between Beijing’s insistence it has honored marketopening promises made when it joined the World Trade Organization in 2001 and arguments by Washington, Europe and others that Beijing improperly hampers access to emerging industries and steals or pressures foreign companies to hand over technology.

Trump’s threat of tariff hikes on up to $450 billion of Chinese products reflects fears Beijing’s plans are a threat to American technological leadership and prosperity. China has tried to recruit Europe as an ally in the dispute but faces complaints by Germany and other governments that it bars purchases of Chinese assets while its own companies are on a global acquisition spree.

Asked about possible U.S. plans to restrict Chinese investment in technology industries, Wang said, “We hope countries concerned can do the right thing and adopt policies that support free trade and investment.”

Thursday’s report was the latest effort by President Xi Jinping’s government to deflect pressure to change development tactics by highlighting the benefits of trade with the world’s secondlargest economy.

Beijing has offered to narrow its multibillion-dollar trade surplus with the United States but has resisted pressure to roll back a state-led industry strategy seen by Communist leaders as a path to prosperity and global influence.