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Biden's Commerce Pick, Raimondo, Voices Tough Line on China

Associated Press

   WASHINGTON - President Joe Biden's pick to oversee the Commerce
   Department took a tough line on China in her confirmation hearing
   Tuesday, though she stopped short of singling out which Chinese
   companies should remain on a list that limits their access to advanced
   U.S. technology.

   If confirmed, as expected, Rhode Island Gov. Gina Raimondo, a former
   venture capitalist, would be responsible for promoting opportunities
   for economic growth domestically and overseas.

   Raimondo focused her testimony before a Senate panel Tuesday on the
   need to help those sectors of the economy and the workers hit hardest
   by the coronavirus pandemic.

   "COVID has shined a light on the inequities in our economy," Raimondo
   said. "The president has been very clear, we're going to build back
   better and more equitably, and I strongly support that."

   She would inherit a department that took actions during the Trump
   administration that heightened tensions with China, namely through
   tariffs and the blacklisting of companies by placing them on the U.S.
   government's so-called Entity List. U.S. companies need to get a
   license to sell sophisticated technology to companies on the list.

   "China's actions have been anti-competitive, hurtful to American
   workers and businesses, coercive, and, as you point out, they're
   culpable for atrocious human rights abuses," Raimondo said in response
   to a question from Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas. "Sowhether it's the entities
   list, or tariffs, or countervailing duties, I intend to use all those
   tools to the fullest extent possible to level the playing field for the
   American worker."

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