Press Releases

On China’s rare earth export restrictions:

“It really was a disruptive thing when China said that several weeks ago … When we look at how critical rare earth minerals are for all the things we want to do going forward, it's so important that we have … all countries, including China, follow free and fair trade practices. I mean that's kind of the point that's made our economic engine in the world  grow and continue to grow and continue to help individuals.” 

On what talks with Xi Jinping should look like:

“... Looking at President Trump's discussions with President Xi is looking at … how can we help make the economic ties between the United States and China stronger? How can we make sure that China practices and follows those fair trade trade practices that we've talked about? And I also would hope that he would look and talk about fentanyl and some of the drug issues that are so devastating for so many of our American citizens.”

On the progress of stopping fentanyl and other drugs from China from coming across our borders:

“I think the biggest improvement that we've seen so far is just the enforcement that President Trump's been putting on the border in terms of making sure that … we don't have more people crossing the border illegally. And as a result, there's less fentanyl coming into the country through those means. But the overall practice that China has in providing those precursors and or maybe providing fentanyl itself to actually use in the smuggling trade is not characteristic of what you would expect of a good trading partner.” 

On what Congressman Estes hopes to see come out of a trade deal with the United States and China:

“I am hopeful that as part of these discussions that China is willing to to be engaged and say that it's important enough to the Chinese economy that they actually act like a fair trading partner so that we can address those issues and make sure that we minimize those negative consequences of things like [drug] smuggling.”

On China’s human rights abuses:

“China has a long history of human rights abuses, whether it's related to Christians, whether it's to the Falun Gong, or whether it's to the Uyghurs. But also just from a standpoint of slave trade practices and using that in their economy … In the past … a lot of leadership, whether it's the United States or in other countries around the world,  have backed away because China objected to bringing up commentary about their human rights abuses. President Trump hasn't done that. 

“He's been willing to stand up and say, ‘We need to make sure that good practices are followed’ and [he’s] been willing to push forward some of his tariffs and some of his other leading points on trade to actually make sure that some of these unfair practices are addressed.” 

On potential outcomes of President Trump’s meeting with Xi Jinping:

“I look forward to having some good dialogue when they meet and, ultimately, I do think it'll take a long time because some of these things, I think, are built into the Chinese economy and they may have to figure out that in their own self-best interest is to agree,  to head in a right direction, and act the same way that we would expect our trade partners to react if we want to have trade partners that are considered most favored nation status.”

On what may transpire after President Trump’s meeting with Xi Jinping:

“President Trump's knows there's going to be heat, I mean just like other presidents knew there were going to be heat, but they didn't address it, whereas President Trump's been willing … to take the slings and arrows, if you would, in terms of the criticisms that would come at him, but he was willing to address and and focus on what's what's the right thing to do.”