Minimise procurement of Chinese goods, Trump directs US government agencies
Jan 16, 2021
Washington [US], January 16 : US President Donald Trump on Friday (local time) directed departments and agencies laws, regulations and policies to minimise the procurement of Chinese goods.
According to an official statement by Robert C O'Brien, National Security Advisor, "Today, President Donald J. Trump directed departments and agencies to review applicable laws, regulations, and policies and to propose regulatory and policy changes, including potential executive actions, to minimize the procurement of People's Republic of China (PRC) goods and services by the Federal Government."
He said that the PRC 2017 National Intelligence Law obligates individuals, organisations, and institutions to assist the PRC security and intelligence services in carrying out a wide variety of intelligence work.
"The PRC government, under the leadership of the Chinese Communist Party, remains free to coerce and coopt PRC manufacturers and services providers to target the United States Government for espionage and information advantage. Some of this activity could further the goals of the PRC's Military-Civil Fusion (MCF) strategy, which calls for all Chinese civil institutions, both public and private, to aid in advancing the capabilities of the PRC military through the acquisition and application of critical and emerging technologies," he added.
Quoting the Director of National Intelligence report, O'Brien said, "The PRC poses the single greatest national security threat to America today. Beijing sees the United States as the main impediment to achieving its regional and global ambitions and consequentially invests significant resources in MCF and other strategies to gain relative advantage. The PRC targets the information systems of the United States Government for personnel records, military plans, and other exploitable data through cyber and other means."