As a result of Trump’s tariff threat, Washington is in very intense negotiations with Beijing “in a way that we haven’t been for so many years,” said the chamber chairman, William Zarit. He said companies hope Beijing can be persuaded to “level the playing field” by easing curbs on foreign investment and business activity in its state-dominated economy.
“I wouldn’t say we are in favor of, specifically, export controls, investment restrictions,” Zarit said at a news conference. But he said American companies want equal treatment, “and this seems to be one of the ways to do that.”