A top-level group, chaired by the US secretary of health and human services, last week issued strategic recommendations to President George W. Bush to improve the safety of products imported to America. Indeed, since the April recall of more than 150 brands of contaminated pet food from China, the safety of Chinese food and consumer products has become a major concern for Americans.
While the product safety issue is important, it is equally important to retain a rational view of US-China trade and not allow individual cases or political rhetoric to instigate a trade war.
Both the Chinese and US governments are engaged in active diplomacy to establish a framework which promotes trade while protecting consumers. These efforts will ultimately lead to closer co-operation and the enforcement of agreements.
The negotiations present a critical opportunity for US officials to discuss the recommendations of the Interagency Working Group on Import Safety with their Chinese counterparts. The US should raise three points. First, it must be clear that the broad recommendations are not targeting China. US officials are well aware that imports come from 150 countries, and Chinese assertions that other nations have also had shipments rejected in the past 12 months have merit. The working group's report is aimed at all US imports.
Second, US regulators will be looking to 'public-private partnerships' to help support long-term solutions. Likewise, Beijing should take industry's concerns seriously and work more closely with them.
Finally, US officials should impress upon their counterparts that long-term, substantive and transparent solutions are needed if the 'Made in China' brand is to win back consumer confidence.
