US Businesses and Local Governments Maintain Strong Interest in Expanding Investment Ties with China

Dragon Media News Desk

Representatives of US local governments and businesses attending the China International Fair for Investment and Trade, or CIFIT, in Xiamen, Fujian Province, have expressed continued interest in strengthening economic and investment cooperation with China.

American business representatives and officials from several states and counties said maintaining engagement with China remains important for companies and local economies. They noted that platforms such as CIFIT provide opportunities to identify investment projects, business partners and new areas of cooperation.

More than 30 US companies are participating in this year’s fair, representing sectors including sportswear, healthcare, food and beverages, and health and wellness products.

The US-China Business Council, or USCBC, participates in CIFIT every year. Sean Stein, attending the fair for the first time since becoming president of the council, described CIFIT as an important platform for American companies seeking to understand the latest economic and business developments in China.

According to Stein, the nature of foreign investment in China has changed significantly over the past 26 years. American and other multinational companies are no longer coming to China simply in search of low-cost labor or access to a large market.

Instead, companies are increasingly asking where they should invest, who they should partner with and which projects offer the strongest long-term strategic value. This shift, he said, has increased the importance of platforms where companies can identify and compare potential partners and investment opportunities.

Investment plans of US companies already operating in China also reflect continued interest in the Chinese market.

According to the 2026 Special Report on the State of Business in South China released by the American Chamber of Commerce in South China, 45 percent of surveyed companies ranked China as their top global investment priority.

The report said 75 percent of companies planned to reinvest in China in 2026, while 95 percent reaffirmed their commitment to maintaining operations in the country.

Member companies of AmCham South China have earmarked an estimated $13.79 billion from profits generated in China for reinvestment over the next three to five years.

Harley Seyedin, president of AmCham South China, described the figures as evidence of business confidence, resilience and long-term strategic commitment to the Chinese market.

The chamber brought more than 30 companies to this year’s CIFIT to explore new investment opportunities. According to Seyedin, over 23 years of participating in the fair, member companies have averaged more than $2 billion in newly signed investments each year.

He said member companies remain profitable in China and that none had completely withdrawn or decoupled from the country. Instead, many are moving further up the value chain and focusing on producing higher-end goods and services in China for the Chinese market.

Participation by representatives of US local governments is another notable feature of this year’s fair.

Walter Chuck Jr., a commissioner of Lincoln County in Oregon, said the main purpose of his first visit to China was to build economic connections and strengthen business and people-to-people relations between Oregon and China.

He noted that China was one of Oregon’s major export markets in 2025. Lincoln County is particularly interested in expanding exports of seafood products, including Dungeness crab, groundfish and shrimp, to the Chinese market.

Chuck said local economic ties with China should continue regardless of wider geopolitical developments. He also highlighted the importance of maintaining supply links that allow fresh seafood products to reach Chinese consumers ahead of occasions such as the Chinese New Year.

Despite broader challenges in US-China economic relations, engagement between local governments and businesses on both sides remains active.

American participants said global challenges such as climate change, supply chain resilience and technological innovation cannot be addressed within national borders alone and therefore require continued cooperation.

Seyedin said the US-China relationship is too large, interconnected and consequential to be reduced to a zero-sum contest.

Chinese trade experts also said the active participation of US businesses and local government representatives at CIFIT reflects the resilience of China-US economic ties.

They noted that despite uncertainties in the global trade environment, companies continue to make investment decisions based on market demand, supply chains, competitiveness and long-term growth potential rather than political rhetoric alone.

The strong US presence at this year’s CIFIT suggests that while differences between Washington and Beijing remain, the practical economic incentives for local governments, businesses and industries to maintain engagement with China continue to be significant.