Clete Willems Quoted by Media on Rising US-China Tensions

Akin Gump public law and policy partner Clete Willems has been quoted in several media outlets on the topic of tensions between the U.S. and China emerging from the coronavirus pandemic.

Willems, who served in the Trump administration as Deputy Assistant to the President for International Economics, Deputy Director of the National Economic Council and part of the National Security Council,  said on CNBC’s Squawk Box Asia, “The reality is that tensions between the United States and China are rising considerably at the moment, and I know people get uncomfortable with the terminology, but I do think we have to be honest and call it what it is, and this is the start of a new Cold War. And if we’re not careful, things could get much, much worse.”

Willems’ participation in a related webinar this week hosted by the Washington International Trade Association was also covered by MLex and POLITICO.

POLITICO quoted Willems at that webinar on the topic of the possibility of a “Buy American” executive order from Trump that would encourage more U.S. production of medical equipment and pharmaceuticals. Willems said, “I’m very worried about the executive order. I think it’s not realistic to think you can make everything at home.”

MLex also quoted him on his concerns regarding the U.S. attempting to produce everything it needs and added his statement that “We need to figure out a way to have these trusted supply chains and networks.”