Ross: North Korea problem won't stop U.S. from cracking down on China trade

Working with China to solve the problem of North Korea's nuclear program does not hinder the United States' ability to get tough on Beijing's trade policy, Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross said on Thursday.

Speaking at POLITICO's Pro Policy Summit, Ross said resolving the nuclear missile problem is the administration's "No. 1 priority."


"The primary responsibility of the president is to protect the American people, so that has to be the sine qua non,” Ross said. But, he added, there is “nothing logically inconsistent with that and having a trade policy that’s better economically for us.”

Asked specifically whether it’s inherently difficult to act tough toward people that you are asking for help, Ross sidestepped the question. “That’s a question of degrees,” he said.

President Donald Trump and his administration have been grappling with how to fulfill campaign promises to crack down on China's trade policy while also asking for its help in reigning in North Korea. Trump earlier this month threatened to cut off all trade with any countries doing business with Pyongyang — a move that was likely aimed almost entirely at Beijing.

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Ross also said Trump's use of his presidential bully pulpit — and particularly his powerful Twitter feed — to call out individual companies and industries has been effective at home and at the World Trade Organization.

Asked about Trump’s tendency to go after companies or business leaders from his perch in the West Wing, Ross responded: “You achieve a lot by doing that.”

“I don’t think that some of the trade cases that are going to WTO would have gone nearly as well if people didn’t realize that he is somewhat skeptical about WTO,” Ross said. “I don’t think a lot of the corporate decisions about whether or not to go offshore would have been made the same way without the tweets.”

