China Herald: Xi´s US visit: splits for CEO´s

Shaun Rein

Money goes before politics during president Xi Jinping´s week-long visit to the United States. And the many CEO´s of American top firms, who will meet the Chinese leader, face dilemma´s, says business analyst Shaun Rein in Market Place.

Market Place:

Apple is a good example. In 2009, the company made just 2 percent of its revenue from China. Today, a quarter of the company's global revenue — more than $46 billion — comes from its business in China. That’s why Apple's Tim Cook will be among a group of CEOs who will meet president Xi Jinping in Seattle.

But there will be a lot of forced smiles around the table. "It puts a lot of American CEOs in a difficult position because they’re almost like supplicants," says Shaun Rein, author of The End of Cheap China. "They’re all flying to Seattle to meet with president Xi as if he’s an emperor, and it’s clear that he’s going to dictate to them what opportunities exist for them in China."

Rein says the business environment for U.S. tech companies in China is the worst he’s seen in 20 years, and the Obama administration has done little to improve the situation. But that may change later this week, when the presidents of the world’s two largest economies meet face-to-face.

More in Market Place.

Shaun Rein is a speaker at the China Speakers Bureau. Do you need him at your meeting or conference? Do get in touch or fill in our speakers´ requests form.

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