Contrary to prevailing narratives of economic decoupling, American corporations are not only maintaining but expanding their substantial presence in China, according to Sean Stein, President of the US-China Business Council. Speaking to journalists in Washington on Wednesday during a meeting with a Chinese business delegation, Stein directly challenged what he termed the ‘myth’ of US corporate withdrawal from the Chinese market.
Stein emphasized that despite media reports and political rhetoric suggesting otherwise, the reality on the ground reveals continued commitment to China operations. ‘American companies are somehow leaving the China market or stepping away from it. That is absolutely not the case,’ Stein stated unequivocally.
The business leader’s comments come amid conflicting media narratives. While some outlets including The Wall Street Journal, Reuters and Forbes have documented instances of companies reducing exposure or reconsidering China strategies due to cost pressures, tariff implications and geopolitical risks, other publications such as Bloomberg, Politico and the New York Post have reported sustained US corporate engagement driven by market scale, supply chain depth and persistent consumer demand.
Stein highlighted that many US companies have maintained operations in China for half a century and show no signs of departure. Rather than disengaging, these firms are implementing sophisticated ‘China-plus-one’ strategies—maintaining Chinese operations while simultaneously developing additional supply chain options elsewhere in Asia and beyond. This approach allows companies to benefit from China’s established manufacturing ecosystem while building resilience through regional diversification.
Supporting Stein’s assessment, the US-China Business Council’s 2025 Member Survey released in July revealed that over 80% of American companies continue to invest in China to serve the local market. Notably, nearly all surveyed firms indicated that maintaining China operations remains essential for global competitiveness. The survey did acknowledge that some companies are recalibrating supply chains with expansions into Southeast Asia, India and Mexico—adjustments driven primarily by tariff considerations, rising input costs and the pursuit of operational resilience rather than wholesale departure from China.