OXFORD, U.K. — Relations between the United States and China are at perhaps their lowest ebb since they were normalized in 1979. Yet, when it comes to finance, competition is only part of the story.
Trump’s actions Trump also recently signed an executive order banning investments by U.S. residents in 31 Chinese companies deemed to be aiding the modernization of the People’s Liberation Army. And, earlier in December he signed the Holding Foreign Companies Accountable Act, which requires publicly traded foreign firms to comply with U.S. auditing rules within three years or be delisted.
Private sector rushes in And yet, even as official financial decoupling progresses, the opposite is happening privately. U.S. and other financial firms are—with China’s blessing—building asset management, securities, life insurance, fintech, and custody businesses in the Chinese market. To this end, as part of trade negotiations with the U.S., China has removed restrictions on foreign ownership of securities, fund-management, and life-insurance companies, even though this will erode domestic entities’ market dominance . China has also been working to attract more foreign portfolio capital, such as by including Chinese equities and bonds in global benchmark indexes, and by promoting “connect” schemes, which increase foreign investors’ access to Chinese capital markets.
If the incoming Biden administration and the new Congress draw new lines for technology, trade, market access, standards, and political values, U.S. financial firms’ enthusiasm for China will become a moot point, especially given Biden’s plans to work more closely with U.S. allies in confronting China. Of course, China will view such actions with serious concern. That would be the point—and it may not be the wrong move.
What if one has to pay for evil advice?