US companies in China are more wary of the Chinese authorities than before but still remain optimistic about doing business in the country. According to research by the American Chamber of Commerce, 57 per cent of respondents felt foreign firms were being scrutinised under China's pricing, anti-monopoly and anti-corruption campaigns. Meanwhile 47 per cent felt 'less welcome' than before.

Reduction in  trust

'Since the Snowden disclosures there has been a reduction in trust on both sides, and with good reason,' Peter Bullock, a Hong Kong-based lawyer with Pinsent Masons commented.'China’s economy has been slowing and US businesses are seeking every way to repatriate jobs ‘lost’ to China through outsourcing.' He added that 'China’s competition authorities always seem to be the last to give a global transaction the green light, which sometimes smacks of delivering a low ball. But it is not only US businesses who feel the regulatory environment is getting harsher, or perhaps more difficult to navigate.  Japanese companies have perhaps an even more difficult time, given recent border disputes.' Source: Outlaw.com