U.S. and China (2009)
THE WHITE HOUSE
Office of the Press Secretary
For Immediate Release
September 15, 2009
PRESS GAGGLE BY SENATOR SHERROD BROWN AND DEPUTY PRESS SECRETARY BILL BURTON
Aboard Air Force One
En route Vienna, Ohio
10:07 A.M. EDT
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Q: Senator Brown, what did you think of the Chinese response to the steel -- the tariffs? Tire tariffs?
SENATOR BROWN: The Chinese always respond that way. You can expect it. The President showed courage. The President did the right thing. The Chinese are always going to complain. Exports are such a more important part of their economy to us than the other way around. That's why the Chinese have too much at stake to launch any kind of a trade war. It's not going to happen.
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Q: How about -- any thoughts on what the possibility of a -- China came out overnight and said that tire sales to the United States were actually down in the first half of the year, and they said that -- to add to their argument that charges that they were dumping don't make any sense. And what does that mean, especially since we're going to GM, in terms of U.S. carmakers' desire to sell more vehicles in China?
MR. BURTON: Look, our -- the President is confident in his decision and believes that -- you know, from time to time, there are disputes as it relates to trade. But if -- there are rules on the books; they should be followed and they should be enforced. You need that for credibility with the American people when you're asking them to move forward with a trade deal and you need that with your global partners -- brace yourself for hitting the ground here -- you need that for your global partners when it comes to new trade agreements.
So, you know, there have been disputes like this over the course of our relationships with China, the European countries, countries all over the world. But with China, there's obviously a bunch of issues of mutual concern, like North Korea, for example, and their nuclear ambitions. And we'll continue to work with them on that and other issues as we move forward here.
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END
10:12 P.M. EDT