Giant CES fair in Vegas shows US remains too big to ignore for Chinese tech firms even as trade war swirls

CES, the world’s largest consumer electronics trade show held annually in Las Vegas, has traditionally been an event for companies, from global names such as Sony, Samsung and Huawei to smaller Shenzhen-based suppliers, to show off their technology, products and services – usually to an eager crowd.

It has even been referred to as the ‘Chinese Electronics Show’ in recent years because of the increasing presence of participants from China.

But for Chinese suppliers hoping to use the event as a way to gain new business leads, times are tough in 2019 thanks to the US-China trade war and an escalating war of words between Washington and Beijing over leadership in a range of cutting edge technologies and innovations, such as artificial intelligence and 5G mobile networks.

The US and China, the two biggest economies in the world, have slapped billions of dollars in tariffs on each other, sending markets reeling and commentators into a frenzy over the long-term implications for US-China relations.

But at the Design and Source tent, where component suppliers set out their wares, it was more quiet then usual as rows of Chinese salespeople manning small booths stood forlornly in front of product displays, trying hard to catch the eye of passers-by in the hope of snaring a sale.

Chinese companies that the Post spoke to at CES all agreed that the US-China trade war has adversely impacted their business with US customers, but all said that regardless of the decreasing margins, the US market remains extremely important.