Clete Willems Quoted in Agri-Pulse on Countering China’s Strength

Agri-Pulse has quoted Akin Gump public law and policy partner Clete Willems in the article “US lawmakers look to trade to counter China’s strength,” which reports on a recent Senate Finance Committee hearing on U.S.-China relations at which Willems testified.

The article notes that confronting China over its trade practices and controversial humanitarian issues is bringing together Republicans and Democrats who see trade as a way to strengthen U.S. leadership in the global arena. Lawmakers from both parties questioned witnesses at the hearing about how best to counter Beijing, while also creating more opportunities for American farmers to increase their exports.

“We need to get in the game,” said Willems, a former international economics adviser at the White House during the Trump administration, who disagrees with the former President’s decision to pull out of the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP).

“If a comprehensive agreement with our former TPP partners is not viable, we should consider targeted sectoral agreements with TPP countries in areas like digital trade and build on that approach over time,” Willems said.

Regarding specific measures being considered, Inside US Trade quoted Willems in the article “Finance Members Outline Priorities for Nascent China-Focused Bill” describing provisions on censorship that would allow the government to step in and shield U.S. companies. “I know there was some talk of putting in place Special 301 or a mechanism like that at [the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative] to focus on this, where the U.S. government would come in and investigate it and come in and potentially try to push back against it,” he said.