US-China trade war fails to dampen cooperation between states and private enterprise
Not quite business as usual but at a local level US authorities and companies are continuing to build ties with China on everything from technology to climate change
Several US states and private businesses are pressing on with plans to work with China in fields ranging from technology development to climate change, despite the spiralling confrontation of the trade war.
Analysts said the two countries would continue to engage strategically and in sectors such as innovation, although the prospect of significant cooperation may be curtailed as China-US tensions move beyond economics to security issues.
Last week the United States infuriated Beijing with a proposal to sell US$330 million worth of arms to Taiwan, and US President Donald Trump accused China of meddling in the US midterm elections. Washington has also sanctioned a Chinese defence ministry unit and its director for buying weapons from Russia. In response, China recalled its naval chief from a visit to the US.
Despite the tensions, the state of Michigan last month signed a memorandum of understanding with China’s Ministry of Science and Technology to jointly develop and share autonomous vehicle technology.
Tom Kelly, CEO of Michigan-based Automation Alley, a manufacturing and technology business association, was in China as part of the Michigan delegation and also attended the World Economic Forum in Tianjin.
He said that business had to continue despite the tariff war.