President Xi Jinping promised more gradual
market-opening steps at the start of an import
fair this week but no initiatives on technology
policy and other irritants that sparked a tariff
war with Washington.
The second China International Import Expo
showcases the country’s vast import market of
1.4 billion people to help deflect complaints that
it improperly subsidizes industries and shields
them from competition. It offers a marketing
platform for foreign suppliers of goods from
wine to yachts but does less for companies that
already are established in China.
“The door that China is opening will only
open further and wider,” Xi said in a speech to
an audience that included French President
Emmanuel Macron and prime ministers of
Greece, Jamaica and Serbia.