Reference News Network July 8 report - According to the Hong Kong South China Morning Post website on July 6, a representative of the Chinese Chamber of Commerce said that despite the heightened trade tensions this year, most U.S. local government officials still welcomed Chinese investment projects. Currently, potential investors are weighing the economic benefits against the geopolitical risks.

The president of the Chicago chapter of the American Chamber of Commerce in China, Ni Pin, said that city leaders in the U.S. hope to boost the local economy through Chinese investment, especially manufacturing projects that are difficult to obtain funding from other channels.

"Many Chinese companies want to invest in the U.S., " he said, "but they are more worried about geopolitical issues. The core question is: 'Will we be welcome here?'"

He mentioned that Chinese manufacturers value the profit potential of the U.S. affluent market, and the Trump administration's increased tariffs on Chinese goods entering the U.S. have further prompted companies to urgently want to establish factories in the U.S. to supply the local market.

Ni Pin believes that the "loud accusations" by political figures at the federal level in the U.S. have made some investors hesitant to apply for investment permits, fearing that local officials may also hold an exclusionary attitude towards them.

Kel Gibbs, a partner at the U.S. business consulting firm Vision Reorganization, cited his contacts in the Midwest region, stating that mayors in Midwestern states such as Illinois and Wisconsin are "very willing" to accept Chinese investment.

He gave an example, saying that the mayor of Wausau, Wisconsin, is actively seeking Chinese investment related to agriculture, and even possibly the automotive industry, as this sector holds significant importance in the surrounding areas of the Midwest.

The report stated that Danny Roy, a senior researcher at the U.S. think tank East-West Center, said that California and New York have "traditionally been open" to Chinese people purchasing property or investing in tech startups.

He explained that the majority of voters in these states do not support the Republican Party, which Trump belongs to, so they are less affected by the party's "hawkish" stance on China.

Last December, Deputy Mayor of Chicago, Kenea Merit, wrote to the chamber, expressing "keen anticipation of cooperation with Chinese enterprises to create jobs, promote innovation, and foster cultural exchange," and proposed that the city of Chicago will provide support in areas such as talent development, tax incentives, and streamlining the approval process.

Ni Pin mentioned that U.S. automobile manufacturers find it difficult to obtain certain components made in China from other channels, which increases the attractiveness of related component production projects. His company, Wanxiang America, produces such components.

Gibbs said that pragmatic figures in local and state governments "will still view Chinese investment as a positive force that creates jobs and opportunities." (Translation/ Yang Ke)

Original: https://www.toutiao.com/article/7524538041415893513/

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