Biden Plans: Increasing Pressure on China | Israel today

"Conduct a comprehensive review of trade policy" • "We will increase tariffs, if they are useful" • These are some of the statements of the President's staff, as Europe seeks to strengthen relations with Beijing

• US President Joe Biden (left) and his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping

  Photo: 

  AFP

Does President Joe Biden intend to continue the path of his predecessor Donald Trump in the fight against China?

The answer is vague, for now.

On the one hand, according to a report by the new administration's Ministry of Commerce, the US will "use all the tools at its disposal" to combat trade distortions on the part of China.

However, the document does not specify the specific tools the administration will take against Beijing. 

"The Biden administration is conducting a comprehensive review of trade policy with China as part of a broad look at Chinese strategy," the document said, criticizing the Trump administration for taking a "partial approach" to China, as opposed to the "comprehensive" one Biden would use.

On the other hand, many see Trump as the first president who dared to put the Chinese issue at the center of the American agenda.

Extradition quarantine on the city of Wuhan / Archive photo: Reuters

The Ministry of Commerce's report floods a series of "harmful actions" by China, including placing barriers to entry into the Chinese market, forced labor plans imposed by the government (e.g. private companies are required to pass information to the administration) and unfair subsidies: "Chinese operations include forced technology transfers , Illegal acquisition and infringement of American intellectual property, censorship and other restrictions on the Internet and the digital economy, and blocking access to American companies in many sectors open against Chinese companies in the US.

The report also states that "top priority" will be given to China's systematic human rights violations and to the concentration camps set up by the Chinese in the area of ​​the Muslim Uighur minority.

The report comes as Biden's nominee for trade minister, Katherine Tai, is awaiting Senate approval. At a Thai hearing, she made clear statements against the Chinese, saying she did not rule out the possibility of imposing tariffs on China - "if proven beneficial" - similar to the administration Trump: Remember, under the initial trade agreement signed between Trump and China, the Chinese pledged to buy another $ 200 billion worth of American goods - a move the Chinese were far from realizing - they claim mainly due to the corona plague that began spreading at the time.

The Shanghai Stock Exchange / Photo: Reuters

"Taking care of the Allies"

Along with the determined statements, the Biden administration says they expect cooperation with "partners and allies", especially those in Europe - but it seems that the EU countries are actually interested in tightening economic relations with China and even forging a trade agreement with it.

If Biden gives the determined line against China in European cooperation, it could drain the administration's efforts.

Beyond that, the Biden administration has banned government officials from using the term "Chinese virus" in relation to Corona, reversing Trump's bans on introducing Chinese propaganda into American educational institutions.