The U.S.-China trade war may have yet to show up on many statistic sheets, but it’s having a much clearer effect on business sentiment.
Most American companies say the ongoing tensions are influencing their long-term business strategies, and many are delaying their China investments, according to the latest survey of its members by the American Chamber of Commerce in China released this week.
The overall outlook for AmCham’s members has shifted from cautious optimism to cautious pessimism, affected by new challenges such as bilateral U.S.-China tensions and longer-term issues like regulations, the report said.
“Our members have been very clear on actions that should be taken by both the Chinese and U.S. governments to improve China’s business environment and foster more sustainable economic ties between our two countries,” said AmCham China Chairman Tim Stratford. He added that more than half of respondents don’t like the tit-for-tat tariffs that have been imposed by Washington and Beijing while they try to reach broader trade deal.