What trade war? US state representatives lining up business at China Import Expo
- American delegations exhibiting to build contacts to tap into the vast Chinese consumer market
- Even without national government’s endorsement, US has third-largest number of exhibitors at the week-long event
Representatives from the US state of Washington didn’t get the memo about the trade war.
The Pacific northwest state has sent a 30-strong trade delegation representing local government, business groups and companies to the inaugural China International Import Expo this week to build trade ties in seeming defiance of US President Donald Trump’s attempt to pressure China into making trade concessions.
Eight Washington companies came to the expo, including a wine distributor, a manufacturer of commercial aircraft passenger seats, a law firm and a consulting service, setting up shop in the state’s main booth in the exhibition hall for food and agricultural products, which has usually been packed with people looking for a taste of their exotic foods.
Washington is one of a number of US exhibitors at the expo. While they may agree with some of the complaints at the core of the trade conflict between the US and China, they are also keen to build relationships in China so that they can tap into China’s vast consumer market once the trade war dust settles.
For now, these representatives are trying to maintain their business contacts in the hope that better days lie ahead.
Home to Microsoft’s headquarters and Boeing’s largest production facility, Washington is one of the top US states exporting to China, shipping a total of US$17.9 billion worth of goods last year, based on statistics from the US Census Bureau.