US Lawmakers Call for Fair Market Access in Rare China Visit
Presidents Xi Jinping and Donald Trump May Meet at APEC Summit in South Korea
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A group of U.S. lawmakers called for fair and reasonable access to China’s market for American businesses during talks with Vice Premier He Lifeng, as both sides work to stabilize ties ahead of a potential leaders’ meeting.
“We simply want a fair trading relationship and there are a variety of issues on both sides,” Rep. Adam Smith (D-Wash.), who led the U.S. delegation, said Sept 22 during the meeting with China’s top economic czar. “We have to figure out how to balance those, so that we can have fair and reasonable access to each other’s markets.”
The delegation also discussed concerns over China’s actions to restrict the global supply and processing of critical minerals, as well as emphasizing “the need to see meaningful actions by China” to restrict the flow of fentanyl and reduce non-tariff barriers to U.S. exports to China, according to a readout of the meetings from Smith’s office. The Beijing meetings also included discussing the negotiation status over the future of TikTok.
The trip may contribute to stabilizing ties ahead of a possible meeting between Presidents Xi Jinping and Donald Trump on the sidelines of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit in South Korea next month. Their Sept. 19 call saw Trump claim China had approved a deal for TikTok’s U.S. operations, potentially resolving one of many sources of conflict between the world’s two largest economies.
. Ranking Member , leading a bipartisan congressional delegation to the People's Republic of China, had a productive dialogue with LI Qiang, the Premier of the State Council People's Republic of China, on the delegation's first day.
The delegation,… — House Armed Services Democrats (@HASCDemocrats)
The lawmakers, including Reps. Michael Baumgartner (R-Wash.), Ro Khanna (D-Calif.) and Chrissy Houlahan (D-Pa.), on Sept. 21 met with Premier Li Qiang, who called their visit an “ice-breaking trip.” It marks the first official visit by U.S. House representatives in six years, signaling a cautious diplomatic thaw. They were joined by Ambassador David Perdue.
The group also met Chinese Defense Minister Dong Jun earlier on Sept. 22 and called for better military communication between the U.S. and China. The bipartisan delegation wants to have “open lines of communication” about the countries’ shared interest in peace and security, Smith said.
In his opening remarks, Dong expressed hope that the visit would deepen U.S. understanding of China and its military.
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A focus for the delegation is improving military-to-military communication. Smith, the Democratic leader of the House Armed Services Committee, said he is “deeply concerned that our two militaries don’t communicate more” while operating side-by-side globally.
Dong and his U.S. counterpart, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, had their first call earlier this month. In that conversation, Hegseth said the U.S. was not seeking conflict and Dong called for a stable relationship, while warning against any attempt to support independence for Taiwan.
Dong repeated the stern warning over the self-ruled island at a defense forum last week. In thinly veiled references to Washington, he condemned “external interference” and “bullying acts,” underscoring persistent friction despite the renewed diplomatic engagements.
