UK: It’s Time to Counter China’s Trade Practices

The British government said Tuesday that they will urge allies to do more to counter China’s “pernicious approach” to weakening the international trading system during talks with the Group of Seven (G7) on Wednesday.

British Trade Minister Liz Truss told the Financial Times, “It’s Time to get tough on China and its trade practices and to push for reform of the World Trade Organization.” She said that when the WTO was founded, China’s economy was only one-tenth the size of the U.S.’s, but it is absurd that China still claims to be a developing country today, and the rules related to this institution must be reformed.

Truss also in a statement before the meeting: “People can not trust unfair free trade. Public trust in free trade has been eroded by vicious practices, including the use of forced labor, environmental degradation, theft of intellectual property, and more.” Although she did not name names in the statement, it was widely believed that she was clearly referring to China.