US Presses China to Open its Markets

The top U.S. trade official says China’s decision to let its currency appreciate against the dollar was a good start, but China must do more to open its markets to American goods.

U.S. Trade Representative Ron Kirk told a Senate Committee Wednesday the Obama administration will continue to press China to open its markets. Kirk said President Barack Obama will raise currency and other trade issues in talks with Chinese officials at this weekend’s G-20 summit of wealthy and developing nations in Canada.

China announced over the weekend it would give up a two-year-old peg of its currency to the U.S. dollar, allowing the yuan to appreciate in value.

STEPHEN OHLEMACHER,Associated Press Writer WASHINGTON (AP)