Chinese Trade Restrictions, Human Rights Issues Should Be Separate, Boeing CEO Says

Boeing this week urged the U.S. to separate trade disputes and human rights issues when dealing with China, saying more trade restrictions could cause the plane maker to cede Chinese market share to European competitors. “We cannot afford to be locked out of that market,” CEO Dave Calhoun told the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Aviation Summit March 31, Reuters reported. “Our competitor will jump right in.”

Although Calhoun told the forum that he believes the ongoing Airbus-Boeing dispute can ultimately be resolved (see 2103050036), he said his company can’t afford to cede ground to Airbus in China, the report said. “I think politically [China] is more difficult for this administration than it was for the last administration. But we still have to trade with our largest partner in the world: China,” Calhoun said. He said he hopes the U.S. can “separate intellectual property, human rights and other things from trade and continue to encourage a free trade environment between these two economic juggernauts.” The White House and the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative didn't comment.