A group of major US companies has urged the US Government to scrap a proposal
to tighten controls on high-tech exports to China.
Household names such
as Boeing and Microsoft are among the firms to speak out against Washington's
proposal to amend its export-control regulations.
The companies
suggested changes to the proposed regulation that would make it "clearer,
simpler and less burdensome with respect to the national security decisions that
company employees must make."
In a letter to the US Government, the
coalition of manufacturers, software companies and high-tech industry groups
said: "Our fundamental view is the regulation should be withdrawn and
reconsidered in its entirety after thorough consultation with
exporters."
The US companies argued that, although the proposal was made
in name of national security, the proposal would not provide any additional
security benefits to the United States. They warn that it could in fact
undermine other US efforts to strengthen relations with China.
China's
Ministry of Commerce was unavailable for comment, but senior ministry officials
had earlier said the US proposal would hamper China's high-tech imports from the
United States.
Encouraging US exports to China, in particular high-tech
exports, is an effective way to tackle the growing trade imbalance between the
two countries.
Jin Bosheng, a researcher at the Chinese Academy of
International Trade and Economic Co-operation, said he was glad to hear such a
call from US companies because business pressures would also influence the US
Government's final decision.
However, a US official said it was
unrealistic to expect Washington to adjust or scrap its export-control policies
on China.
Chris Padilla, assistant secretary of commerce for export
administration, was quoted by Reuters as saying the Bush administration would
try to address concerns companies have about the regulation before it is
finalized sometime early next year.
"But scrapping it is simply not in
the cards because the rule derives from very fundamental tenets of US policy,"
said Padilla.
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