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Of
368 companies responding to the survey, 64% viewed slowing
growth in the world's second largest economy as their top worry,
while 58% cited U.S.-China trade tensions as a key challenge.
One reason for that may be that many U.S. companies have
businesses focused on China's huge market of about 1.4 billion
people that do not rely on exports back to the U.S.
Economists expect China’s economy to slow further this year
after expanding at about a 5% annual pace in 2025. Growth in
exports outpaced imports last year, leading to a record trade
surplus of nearly $1.2 trillion.
The report said business sentiment has improved from last year.
More than half of those responding estimated that they made a
profit in 2025, up from less than half last year.
It has been a rocky ride for American businesses in recent
years, especially after President Donald Trump returned to
office nearly a year ago.
A year-long trade truce reached between Washington and Beijing,
after Trump imposed tariffs of up to 145% on imports from China
has alleviated some of the uncertainty for businesses. Trump is
expected to visit Beijing in April and Chinese leader Xi Jinping
may visit the U.S. this year.
Overall, foreign investment in China has slowed. Government data
show foreign direct investment was at 693 billion yuan ($99
billion) in the first 11 months of 2025, down 7.5% from the
previous year.
“Our companies have to live with the political realities, but
they’re focused on the business opportunities,” Michael Hart,
president of AmCham China, said at a media briefing. “We have
felt that the Chinese government does want foreign investment,
they do want American investment.”
The survey showed that 48% of those responding expressed
optimism about growing their markets in China over the next two
years, up from 37% the previous year.
During a high-level annual economic work conference in Beijing
in December, Chinese leaders acknowledged the need to reform and
improve systems for promoting foreign investments.
The AmCham survey was conducted between Oct. 22 and Nov. 20 last
year, around the time when Trump and Xi met in South Korea and
agreed to extend their trade truce.
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