China

The omnibus spending and coronavirus relief package Congress passed this week includes requirements for a variety of agencies to issue reports assessing whether China exploited the pandemic to advance its economic and political goals and if partner countries have sufficient export control regimes.

The Biden administration would welcome “early consultations” with the European Union on ways to address mutual concerns about Beijing’s economic practices, Jake Sullivan, President-elect Joe Biden’s pick for national security adviser, said on Monday.

The Florida senator wants to know how many export licenses have been granted for chips destined for Huawei and why.

The Export-Import Bank’s board of directors on Thursday voted to lower the content threshold for the financing of a specific set of high-tech sectors in an effort to increase U.S. industrial competitiveness against China.

Communist Party officials in China’s Ministry of Commerce on Thursday made the case that China must take a leading role in reforming global governance and ensure its values are reflected at institutions like the World Trade Organization and in new e-commerce rules.

President-elect Joe Biden is expected to normalize U.S. international dealings after a chaotic four years under President Trump, who roiled allies and adversaries alike and often conducted diplomacy by tweet, but the strategic competition evolving between the U.S. and China will keep them from returning to previous norms, a host of stakeholders and analysts said this week.

As the Trump administration, in its waning days, continues to inflame tensions between the U.S. and China, officials in Beijing continue to say they hope to de-escalate and reset the relationship with Washington once President-elect Biden takes office.