Beyond the medical device sector were many other examples cited in a report in September by the Chamber of Commerce, drawing on the experience of businesses operating in China. Among the examples cited are standards for wireless technology, mobile phones and mobile phone batteries that favor Chinese companies, as well as antimonopoly laws that exempt Chinese government enterprises.

Even those skeptical of the results of Paulson’s initiative say it has helped defuse some of the tension between the nations. “If you look at the problems of the last few months, like the product safety issue, the strategic dialogue has served as a mechanism for dealing with them,” said Jeffrey A. Bader, director of the China programme at the Brookings Institution.