|
Bush: US supports 'one-China' policy
(Reuters/chinadaily.com.cn)
Updated: 2005-11-16 11:37
Trade and currency
Bush urged China on
Wednesday to act to bring more flexibility to its currency system and to rein in
the yawning US-China trade imbalance.
He said that China's access to American markets had played an important role
in its development as an economic power and he noted that the United States had
supported China's entry into the World Trade Organization.
In return, he said, "China needs to provide a level playing field for
American businesses seeking access to China's market."
Amid growing complaints by US politicians, manufacturers and workers about
the trade deficit with China and the Chinese currency, Bush faces pressure to
take a tough line such issues.
Bush said China had made a "good beginning" on trade with the July
revaluation of its currency and with statements made by Chinese President
Hu Jintao promising to address the bilateral trade gap and to crack
down on the counterfeiting of US music, software and other goods.
But he added: "China needs to take action to ensure that these goals are
implemented."
In July, after some two years of intense speculation in financial markets of
a currency adjustment, China revalued the yuan by 2.1 percent, scrapped an
11-year-old peg to the dollar and said it would allow its currency to appreciate
as much as 0.3 percent per day against the dollar.
But since then the yuan has moved little, rising a total of about 0.3 percent
against the US dollar over three months.
Chinese officials have repeatedly said they will allow greater yuan
flexibility but only gradually.
|
