US Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo warned China in interviews broadcast on Sunday (Sep 3) that the patience of US business was “wearing thin”, saying American companies deserved a “predictable environment and a level playing field”.

The two biggest economies in the world used to be each other’s largest trade partners, but Washington now trades more with neighbouring Canada and Mexico, while Beijing trades more with Southeast Asia.

While in China recently, Raimondo had said there was strong appetite among US businesses to make the relationship work and that, while some actions of the Chinese government were positive, the situation on the ground needed to match the rhetoric.

“China is making it more difficult,” Raimondo told CBS’s Face the Nation. “I was very clear with China that we need to - patience is wearing thin among American business. They need and deserve a predictable environment and a level playing field. And hopefully China will heed that message so we can have a stable growing commercial relationship.”