The future secretary of commerce plans to be “very old …

“China has behaved in a clearly anti-competitive manner” said Gina Raimondo, whom Biden nominated for the post of US secretary of commerce. Once confirmed, he assured that he was planning “be very aggressive in helping Americans compete with unfair practices from China”.

The US Senate yesterday held the confirmation hearing of Gina Raimondo for her position as head of the Secretary of Commerce. During yesterday’s session, Republican Senator from the state of Missouri, Roy Blunt, asked Raimondo about his position on tariffs, referring to the 232 tariffs that affect steel and aluminum imports. The measure was adopted in 2018 to avoid dumping practices from China. “The dumping of cheap steel and aluminum into the United States has hurt American workers and the competitiveness of our businesses.” Raimondo remarked.

From Beijing, they called on Washington to “correct their mistakes”. Without referring directly to Raimondo’s words, Zhao Lijian, the spokesman for the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs referred to Trump’s legacy, “The last government of the United States opted for protectionism and intimidation and maliciously started a trade war” against China, Lijian said at a press conference.

Under the Trump administration, other tariffs were enacted as a means of punishing companies “considered a threat to national security” in the United States. Trump-era Commerce Department chief Wilbur Ross has cracked down on tech companies in China. He even accused them of industrial espionage and breaching the security of the United States. The list of “entities” with which the North American country could not trade reached 300, including large telecommunications companies such as Huawei and ZTE, the International Society of Semiconductor Manufacturers SMIC (a manufacturer of computer cards who Trump has restricted access to – the cutting edge of U.S. technology) and drone maker DJI.

In the audience, Republican Ted Cruz, The Texas state senator was “concerned” over “rumors” that the Biden administration was slacking off and “removing companies from the entity list” and asked Raimondo if he promised to keep tech giant Huawei on the list. “I will review the policies, I will consult you, with the industry and with our allies pAssess what is best for the national and economic security of the United States “replied Gina Raimondo, who is still awaiting the vote of the senators to be confirmed in her functions.