China

The restrictions are also seen as a component of forced technology transfers, a key issue in the U.S.-China trade discussions.

GENEVA -- India, China, the African Group and other World Trade Organization members this week defended the “rights” of developing countries to special and differential treatment, likely setting up a confrontation with the U.S. at next week’s General Council meeting.

“Big day of negotiations with China. They want to make a deal, but do I?”

U.S. business groups are largely touting a deal struck last month that will allow the U.S. to charge more for international mail deliveries, but the effect on trade flows, particularly with China, remains unclear.

BSA -- The Software Alliance is circulating a letter that will be sent to Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross.

The China Chamber of International Commerce said on Wednesday that China has lived up to its World Trade Organization commitments and that the U.S. has improperly included the country’s implementation of dispute rulings, or lack thereof, as evidence of non-compliance.

“The darkening outlook for trade is discouraging but not unexpected. Beyond their direct effects, trade conflicts heighten uncertainty, which is leading some businesses to delay the productivity-enhancing investments that are essential to raising living standards.”

Despite an improving regulatory environment in China, U.S. companies in Shanghai are growing increasingly pessimistic about their business prospects due to an economic slowdown and rising trade tensions between the U.S. and China, according to a report issued this month by American Chamber of Commerce in Shanghai.

China has proposed new language on electronic commerce in negotiations at the World Trade Organization, suggesting that members be prevented from limiting or blocking trade in information and communications technology equipment and products -- a proposal that comes after the U.S. imposed such restrictions on Chinese telecom company Huawei.