Chinese market remains vital for US firms

A fraught US-China relationship and punitive US tariffs are imposing real costs and undermining the competitiveness of US companies, leading to lost sales, severed customer relationships and reputational damage, according to the 2025 Member Survey released by the US-China Business Council on Wednesday.

Despite strong headwinds, the annual report underscores that nearly all US firms view their China operations as vital — emphasizing China's role as a critical market for accessing a vast consumer base and driving innovation.

Sean Stein, president of the business council, said "the ability to operate in China's fiercely competitive market" remains "nonnegotiable for American companies", which allows them to access "a burgeoning middle class while honing new technologies and practices essential for maintaining global competitiveness".