Beijing, Oct 28: US Commerce Secretary Don Evans warned China today that Washington's patience is wearing thin over its soaring trade deficit with Beijing and urged the government to fully implement its World Trade Organisation commitments. Evans, on a four day visit, threatened to close off US markets to China's exports if China failed to make greater efforts to open its markets.
"We have been patient but our patience is wearing thin," Evans told the American Chamber of Commerce in Beijing.
"The American market will not remain open to Chinese exports indefinitely if the Chinese market is closed to US companies. "US imports from China are five times greater than our exports. This year the trade deficit could reach USD 130 billion."
Meanwhile, China today said it is "concerned" over proposals in the US Congress to impose a 27 per cent tariff on Chinese exports and urged Washington not to let an ongoing trade dispute hurt bilateral relations.
"China wishes to express its concern over that (tariff proposal)," Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Zhang Qiyue said.
"The smooth development of economic and trade relations between China and the United States is in the interest of both countries' peoples and is beneficial to the healthy development of China-US relations.
Bureau Report