US Trade Official Slams China, Admits US ‘Asleep at the Wheel’

A top US trade official directly criticized China’s trade tactics on Thursday, while also blaming Washington for years of inaction. William Kimmitt, the US under secretary of commerce for international trade, said Beijing used every tool available to build its industries and capture more of the American market. “They subsidized, they dumped, they erected regulatory barriers, they supported state-owned enterprises,” Kimmitt said. He did not name China directly but the comments were clearly aimed at Beijing. Kimmitt also faulted the United States for failing to respond. He accused Washington of being “asleep at the wheel for far too long.” The remarks highlight growing frustration within the US government over China’s trade practices and America’s slow response.