Exclusive | US, China discuss investment revival ahead of Trump’s trip: sources
Both sides exploring structured joint ventures and licensing deals, with Beijing seeking protection and Washington eyeing better market access amid declining capital flows
Beijing and Washington have begun discussing ways to revive reciprocal investment – a move that could be one of the few deliverables during an upcoming China visit by US President Donald Trump, according to multiple sources.
One source said both parties were interested in tightly structured joint ventures, licensing arrangements, and so-called intellectual property-light models designed to withstand political and regulatory scrutiny.
In January, John Moolenaar, chairman of the House Select Committee on China, sent a letter to Ford CEO Jim Farley asking whether changes had been made to the company’s licensing agreement with CATL since new eligibility restrictions were put in place. Moolenaar noted how CATL was “a Pentagon-designated Chinese military company” – a claim that the battery firm has long denied.
Beijing has long viewed its economic relationship with the US – marked by hundreds of billions of dollars in annual trade and investment flows – as the bedrock of broader diplomatic ties.
The Chinese side was said to have raised concerns about investment protection, as stricter scrutiny of its investments in the United States has already led to declines and some withdrawals. China’s representatives also discussed the listing of Chinese companies. Meanwhile, US representatives solicited views about access to the Chinese market.