Lighthizer wants to open China, not change it - Reuters

As reported by Reuters, US Chief Trade Negotiator Robert Lighthizer made statements on Tuesday regarding his plan for trade with China, claiming that he has no wish to alter China's state-run economic system, but rather that he simply wants to see to expose China's market to more outside foreign investors.

Key quotes

"U.S. Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer told the U.S. Chamber of Commerce he viewed the talks with top Chinese officials on Thursday and Friday as the start of a long learning process for Washington and Beijing to better manage their trade differences."

“It is not my objective to change the Chinese system,” Lighthizer said. “It seems to work for them. ... But I have to be in a position where the United States can deal with it, where the United States isn’t the victim of it and that’s where our role is.”

"(White House Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross) said earlier on Tuesday that Trump was prepared to levy tariffs on China if the delegation did not reach a negotiated settlement to reduce trade imbalances."

"Lighthizer downplayed the potential imposition of tariffs on China in his remarks to the most powerful U.S. business lobby."