U.S. President-elect Joe Biden’s pick for his incoming administration’s top trade official will likely carry on a tough line against China, according to former Trump trade negotiator Clete Willems. Biden last week named Katherine Tai, a trade lawyer and China expert, as his choice for the U.S. trade representative — a critical Cabinet-level position tasked with enforcing U.S. import rules as well as negotiate trading terms with China and other countries. “Folks like me who worked in the Trump Administration have a ton of respect for her and think she will help carry on a tough line on China,” he added. He noted that she’s handled joint disputes by U.S. and partners — including the European Union, Mexico and Japan — at the World Trade Organization against China. “The Biden Administration will need to get our allies to increase their ambition and willingness to take tough actions to make this successful.”

Source: The Standard December 18, 2020 05:48 UTC