Chamber calls out China on protectionism practices

Myron Brilliant, the U.S. Chamber of Commerce's Senior Vice President of International, on Thursday criticized China's "indigenous innovation" initiative that he claimed amounted to protectionism. 

He said the term suggested "opposition to open, collaborative, transnational innovation"  and would hurt China's relationship with the U.S.

"[It] would make it virtually impossible for any foreign invested enterprise to participate in China's government procurement market -- even those that have made substantial and long-term investments in China, employ Chinese citizens, and pay taxes to the Chinese government," he said. 

Brilliant's comments came at the 10th Anniversary of the People's Republic of China's Quality Brand Protection Committee, where he warned the policy, if not changed, would "invite similar discriminatory policies in China's vital export markets, putting additional pressure on export job creation and growth."

"Put simply, ongoing approaches by China are eroding the support of China's long-standing advocates in the United States, diminishing the many good arguments we have used historically in support of this relationship," Brilliant said. 

The Chamber has historically defended China against legislation targeting its economic policies. Today's speech by Brilliant signaled that relationship would end if the country refused to change its ways.