Asia-Pacific

US to make 'significant reform' for export control regime: Locke

(Xinhua)
Updated: 2010-05-17 10:04
Large Medium Small

HONG KONG - The US Commerce Secretary Gary Locke said here on Sunday that "concrete proposals" on the export control regime could be expected within the next several months.

"We are very optimistic that we will make a very significant reform for export control regime," said Locke at a press conference.

Related readings:
US to make 'significant reform' for export control regime: LockeUS seeks win-win scenarios in trade with China: Locke
US to make 'significant reform' for export control regime: LockeObama supports trade liberalization between US and China: Locke
US to make 'significant reform' for export control regime: LockeChina to gain in US export curbs revamp
US to make 'significant reform' for export control regime: LockeUS looks to export drone technology

Locke, leading a big delegation to promote clean energy technologies in China, said "various reports and studies have indicated that some restrictions of export control have inhibited US companies' sale of emerging technologies."

"We believe that some of these restrictions we have on the US companies make absolutely no sense."

In August 2009, the US President Barack Obama announced that his administration would conduct a thorough review of the country' s export control regime.

"This effort has been led by Secretary of Defense Robert Gates, along with Secretary of State Hilary Clinton and myself," said Locke.

Locke said that the review will help with "the sale of highly sophisticated technology that might be embedded in some of the machines and devices, like the wind turbines, and the software that might operate these very sophisticated systems."

Locke's 10-day trip in china on May 16-25 was designated to promote exports of leading US clean energy technologies. He was accompanied by senior executives from 24 American companies, including manufacturing giant General Electric, First Solar, a leading manufacturer of solar modules, and Peabody, the world's largest private-sector coal company.

The trip was regarded part of Obama's new National Export Initiative, which is aimed at doubling US exports and creating some 2 million new jobs in the next five years.

The delegation will visit Shanghai and Beijing later this week. During his stay in Beijing, Locke will attend the annual Strategic and Economic Dialogue between China and the United States before heading to Indonesia, the last stop of his Asia trip.