Bloomberg Quotes Clete Willems on State of U.S.-China Trade Negotiations
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Clete Willems, an incoming partner in the public law and policy practice at Akin Gump, has been quoted in the Bloomberg article “U.S. plans to raise tariffs, accuses China of backpedaling on commitments.” The article addresses comments by U.S. Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer that the United States would raise tariffs on Chinese goods on Friday, after accusing Beijing of reversing itself on commitments it made during earlier trade negotiations.
According to the article, trade talks will continue later this week when a Chinese delegation visits Washington. Willems said both sides have reasons to keep talking, even though the likelihood of a short-term deal now appears distant.
“It’s important that both sides continue to engage on this,” said Willems, a former Trump administration official who served as a lead trade negotiator with foreign governments, including China. “These are the world’s two largest economies and they need to work through their trade problems.”
The move to increase tariffs, however, should not be a surprise, added Willems. “The only reason that the administration has gotten as far as it has and made this much progress is because it has been willing to put in place tariffs and has indicated that it will continue to escalate things if the problems aren’t addressed.”
Willems, a former White House economics advisor who most recently led the Office of International Economic Affairs, will join Akin Gump next month. (Click here to read more.)
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