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Thursday 19 OcTOber 2017
US allies air concerns about Trump’s ‘Buy American’ order

GENEVA (AP) — Israel, Hong including the European A Geneva trade official anonymity as she was not that will recommend stron-
Kong and Taiwan joined a Union, Canada and Japan, familiar with the case said authorized to speak pub- ger implementation of the
number of U.S. allies at the also urged Washington the group of WTO mem- licly about the case.In the “Buy American Laws” —
World Trade Organization to continue honoring the bers took issue with the closed-door session, the EU and that U.S. officials would
on Wednesday to express trade body’s “Government “Buy American and Hire argued that more stringent take into account all the
concerns over a Trump Procurement Agreement” American” executive or- “Buy American” policies comments received.
administration executive that binds the United States der signed in April that were likely to increase costs According to the official,
order that calls on U.S. au- and 45 other countries — lays out a policy aimed and delays, with no net the U.S. representative says
thorities to “maximize” use mostly EU members — to to “maximize” use of U.S.- benefit in job creation, the Trump’s executive order
of American-made goods, open government procure- made items in government official said.The official said should not be “construed
products and materials in ment markets to foreign procurement and assis- that Commerce Secretary to impair existing rights or
government procurement. competition and make tance awards. The official Wilbur Ross is to submit a obligations under interna-
The 10 WTO members, also them more transparent. spoke only on condition of report to Trump by Nov. 24 tional agreements.”q
Tillerson seeks stronger ties with India, chides China

directly challenge the in- because of their shared
ternational law and norms concerns about the rise
that the United States and of China — whose lead-
India both stand for,” Til- er Xi Jinping told a ruling
lerson said in an address communist party congress
at the Center for Strategic Wednesday that it was
and International Studies, time for China “to take
a Washington think tank. center stage in the world
He also accused China of and to make a greater
economic activities and contribution to human-
financing that saddles kind.”
developing countries in While President Donald
the region with enormous Trump has looked to deep-
debt. en cooperation with China
A senior State Department on addressing the nuclear
official told reporters that threat from North Korea,
the speech was intended he’s sought a much clos-
to map out a strategy for er relationship with India,
U.S.-India relations for the which also shares U.S. wor-
next century, in which the ries on Islamic extremism.
region’s leading democra- “In this period of uncer-
cies — also including Ja- tainty and angst, India
Secretary of State Rex Tillerson speaks about the US relationship with India, at the Center for Stra- pan and Australia — blunt needs a reliable partner
tegic and International Studies on Wednesday, Oct. 18, 2017, in Washington.
(AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin) China’s growing influence on the world stage. I want
and challenges to the to make clear: with our
By MAT PENNINGTON of state, risked endearing under strain. rules-based order. The of- shared values and vision
Associated Press Washington to one Asian Both India and China had ficial was not authorized for global stability, peace
WASHINGTON (AP) — Sec- power while alienating an- benefited from that order, to speak by name and re- and prosperity, the United
retary of State Rex Tillerson other. but Tillerson said India had quested anonymity. States is that partner,” Tiller-
called Wednesday for the Tillerson said the world done so while respect- Tillerson said the U.S. seeks son said.
U.S. and India to expand needed the U.S. and India ing rules and norms, while constructive relations with Tillerson said the U.S. wants
strategic ties. He also point- to have a strong partner- China had “at times” un- China but “won’t shrink” to improve India’s military
edly criticized China, which ship. He said the two na- dermined them. To make from the challenges it pos- capabilities, it has offered
he accused of challenging tions share goals of secu- his point, he alluded to es when it “subverts the to sell it unarmed Guard-
international norms need- rity, free navigation, free China’s island building and sovereignty of neighbor- ian surveillance drones, air-
ed for global stability. trade and fighting terror- expansive territorial claims ing countries, and disad- craft carrier technologies
Tillerson’s remarks on rela- ism in the Indo-Pacific, and in seas where Beijing has vantages the U.S. and our and F-18 and F-16 fighter
tions between the world’s serve as “the eastern and long-running disputes with friends.” aircraft, he said.
two largest democra- western beacons” for an Southeast Asian neighbors. U.S.-India relations have He said the U.S. and India
cies, ahead of his first trip international rules-based “China’s provocative ac- generally prospered in were leading regional ef-
to South Asia as secretary order which is increasingly tions in the South China Sea the past decade, in part forts on counterterrorism. q
Iran top leader urges Europe to do more to back nuclear deal

By AMIR VAHDAT change for restrictions on “The nuclear deal is to their show the supreme leader’s sortium Airbus has signed
Associated Press Iran’s nuclear program. benefit”, Khamenei said. hope that he can leverage billions of dollars in sales
TEHRAN, Iran (AP) — “The European govern- Khamenei also said of European business interests agreements with Iran.
Iran’s supreme leader on ments have underlined the Trump: “I will not spend time into protecting the nuclear France’s Total SA and state-
Wednesday urged Europe nuclear deal’s issue and responding to the nonsensi- deal. run China National Petro-
to do more to back the condemned the U.S. presi- cal comments by the foul- The supreme leader wants leum Corporation signed
2015 nuclear deal after dent’s remarks,” Ayatollah mouthed president.” to ensure that Iran contin- a $5 billion agreement with
President Donald Trump re- Ali Khamenei said, accord- He also referred to Trump ues to have access to the Iran to develop the coun-
fused to re-certify the pact. ing to comments posted on and his administration as international market for its try’s massive offshore natu-
European companies have his official website. being “mentally retarded.” crude oil as part of efforts ral gas field.
rushed into the Iranian mar- “We welcome this ap- He warned that if the U.S. to revive its stagnant econ- And French automobile
kets since the landmark proach but it is not enough scuttles the deal, “we will omy. manufacturer Groupe Re-
accord, which lifted inter- that they only tell him not to shred it into pieces.” Since the nuclear accord, nault signed a $778 million
national sanctions in ex- tear up the deal.” Khamenei’s comments European aviation con- deal. q