Treasury Secretary Henry Paulson said Wednesday that U.S. worries about Chinese product safety will be a major topic at high-level economic talks with China next week, according to AP. The so-called Strategic Economic Dialogue comes as the United States pushes China to improve the safety of its exports in light of a string of high-profile recalls of various items as wide-ranging as toys and toothpaste. China's ability to manage the safety of its goods, Paulson said, will be an important part of Beijing's future growth and of its trade relations with the United States. A complaint from some in China that the U.S. focus on the matter stems from a strategy to restrict Chinese imports, he said, «has no basis in fact.» «American consumers need to have confidence in the safety of the products they purchase, whether produced at home or abroad,» Paulson said in a speech at the Asia Society, an education group. Paulson and other senior Bush administration officials travel to China Dec. 12-13 for the talks' third round. Paulson launched the effort a year ago, but so far it has produced few results. Vice Premier Wu Yi leads the Chinese side. Paulson, in his speech, warned of misconceptions in the relationship «that are influencing the rise of protectionism and economic nationalism in both nations.» He also defended the discussions for helping to improve communications among top officials, which was often lacking before. Critics say the dialogue produces more talk than results.
