China says trade barriers block tech imports, fueling its surplus

As US midterms raise policy questions, Beijing defends own trade practices at import fair Tesla products appeared at the China International Import Expo as part of an exhibition by the Lingang pilot free trade zone, home to the U.S. EV maker’s Shanghai factory (Photo by Suzuki Wataru) SHANGHAI -- A top Chinese official on Thursday said China is eager to import high-tech products, but trade barriers have prevented it from doing so, pushing back against criticism of the country's large trade surplus, as he presided over a trade fair.