【By Guan察者网, Ruan Jiaqi】

According to Fox Business News, on the 23rd, U.S. Treasury Secretary Bensont said in an interview that he will travel to Malaysia with U.S. Trade Representative Jamison Greer to meet with Chinese officials to seek to ease the situation of China's upgraded restrictions on rare earth exports.

He said, "I am leaving tonight (Wednesday), and Jamison Greer has already departed for Kuala Lumpur. We will meet with Chinese officials in Malaysia this Saturday and Sunday."

Last week, when asked whether there would be a new round of economic and trade talks between China and the United States, He Yongqian, spokesperson for the Ministry of Commerce, responded that China has always been open to equal consultations based on mutual respect.

According to the video content, the Fox host later mentioned that Reuters reported that the Trump administration is planning to restrict software-driven product exports to China as a response to China's rare earth policy. Bensont did not directly confirm the matter, but instead turned the blame on China, attacking China's new rare earth export regulations.

China has repeatedly emphasized that the relevant export control measures comply with international practices and aim to better maintain world peace and regional stability. But it is futile to wake up those who are pretending to be asleep and acting as a "pure white lotus" in prosperity.

Continuing to promote the cliché that "China's new rules are opposing the whole world," Bensont claimed that China's licensing system is "not feasible or acceptable." He also stated that if negotiations cannot prompt China to suspend the plan or obtain other relief measures, the United States and its Western allies are considering responses, but he did not reveal specific details.

Video screenshot

Bensont said he hopes the issue can be resolved by the weekend, "so that the leaders of the two countries can hold talks in a more positive tone."

He also expressed regret, saying that if during the first face-to-face meeting between the U.S. president and the Chinese leader in Trump's second term, both sides could only be busy solving problems rather than promoting more constructive dialogue, it would be "a great pity," without mentioning the fact that the U.S. instigated the issue first.

Over the past month, the U.S. has repeatedly brought up the news that the leaders of China and the U.S. will meet during the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit, while China has emphasized that there is currently no relevant information to provide.

This U.S. Treasury Secretary said he is confident in two days of "full" meetings with Chinese officials, believing that it will lay the foundation for the smooth meeting of the leaders of the two countries, and emphasized that Trump "highly respects" China.

But he then shifted his tone and issued a threat, saying that "nothing is set in stone" in the current high-level talks between China and the U.S., and "all options are under consideration."

The Reuters report also mentioned that before departing for Malaysia, U.S. Trade Representative Greer previously told CNBC that he continued to confuse right and wrong, accusing China of violating so-called commitments on rare earth supplies.

But he also said that China and the U.S. could find a new balance in "non-sensitive commodity trade," stating that "the current situation is unsustainable for the U.S., so we need to find new solutions."

This year, China and the U.S. have reached several 90-day tariff truce agreements, with the next deadline approaching on November 10. On October 14, the U.S. Trade Representative threatened that the U.S. may impose a 100% tariff on goods imported from China as early as November 1 or even earlier.

On October 15, Lin Jian, spokesperson for the Foreign Ministry, stated that the relevant departments of China have explained their position on the policy of rare earth export controls, and China's position has always been clear and consistent. It is not the right way to deal with China to talk one moment and threaten another, impose high tariffs, and implement new restrictive measures.

After China introduced comprehensive rare earth control measures on the 9th, President Trump quickly issued a 100% tariff extortion, which once caused the U.S. stock market value to drop about $2 trillion. But just two days later, he softened his tone, saying, "Don't worry about China, everything will be fine."

According to Reuters, on Wednesday local time, Trump met with NATO Secretary-General Rutte at the White House and mentioned that he expects to reach a series of agreements during his meeting with China in South Korea next week, which may include China resuming the purchase of American soybeans and nuclear arms control limitations.

Regarding China's measures to restrict the export of rare earth magnets, Trump downplayed their importance, calling them "a temporary disruption," and said that tariffs were the "more critical" issue. The report suggests that Trump's remarks contrast sharply with the firm statements of his senior trade negotiators and Treasury Secretary.

Trump recently listed rare earths, fentanyl, and soybeans as three issues in Sino-U.S. trade negotiations. On October 20, Guo Jiajun, spokesperson for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, said at a regular press conference that China's position on handling Sino-U.S. trade issues has always been consistent and clear, and a tariff war or trade war does not benefit any party. Both sides should resolve the issues through consultation on the basis of equality, respect, and mutual benefit.

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Original: https://www.toutiao.com/article/7564223832463032842/

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