Commerce Secretary Gutierrez says US willing to negotiations with China on textiles

03 Jun '05

1 min read

US Commerce Secretary Carlos M. Gutierrez stated Thursday the Bush administration is ready to negotiate with China to avoid a trade war, hinting at a compromise on the textile quotas, imposed last month on the surge of Chinese-made textiles.

Speaking at the American Chamber of Commerce in Beijing, Gutierrez said, "President Bush understands that no one wins a trade war.”

He reasoned that what US had decided on textiles was its right under the WTO rules.

“Our Chinese trade partners don't agree, and we'll have to sit down and look at the language. That's negotiable. It's subject to interpretation," he added.

Gutierrez emphasized that US government is in favor of free trade policy and is predisposed against protectionism.

"The slow pace of progress risks a protectionist backlash in the United States," he said.

Wang Yu, secretary general of the China Chamber of Commerce for Import and Export of Textiles said that the China welcomes any steps or policies that show American goodwill, expressing hope that negotiations would conclude successfully.

Later, Gutierrez made it obvious that he did not intend to hold any further negotiations on the textile clashes.

He is scheduled to meet Commerce Minister Bo Xilai, his Chinese counterpart on Saturday.

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