U.S. groups urge government to reconsider China export control proposal

Two dozen U.S. business groups urged the U.S. government on Friday to scrap a proposal to tighten national security controls on exports to China.

In a letter to the Commerce Department, the groups, representing some of the biggest U.S. companies, such as Boeing and Microsoft, complained that many of the goods embargoed by the regulation "are readily available to China's military from alternative sources, both foreign and indigenous."

"Our fundamental view is the regulation should be withdrawn and reconsidered in its entirety after thorough consultation with exporters," said the coalition of manufacturers, software companies and high-tech industry groups in the letter.

The groups said the proposed rule would not provide any additional security benefit and could damage other U.S. efforts to strengthen relations with China and persuade it to become a "responsible stakeholder" in the global community.

They also argued that no trading partners in Europe and Asia are likely to follow suit.

Source: Xinhua