Communication | 'No tariffs, cooperation' - California business community eager to strengthen trade cooperation with China

Los Angeles, June 3 (Xinhua) -- "No tariffs, cooperation" - California business community eager to strengthen trade cooperation with China

Xinhua News Agency reporter Gao Shan

Don't impose tariffs, cooperate. "This is the common call expressed by several California business people attending the 2025 China California Economic and Trade Forum to reporters. The forum held on the 2nd in Los Angeles, the largest city in the western United States, attracted nearly 500 political and business figures from China and the United States to discuss how to maintain and strengthen economic and trade exchanges and cooperation between California, the largest state in the US economy, and China.

Representatives of major economic organizations from the two largest cities in northern and southern California have emphasized the significant role of China as an important trading partner of California in the local economic development, as well as the importance of maintaining economic and trade exchanges between the two sides.

The largest business organization in the Los Angeles area of Southern California, the Los Angeles Regional Chamber of Commerce, has over 1400 member companies with a total of more than 650000 employees. Maria Salinas, the chairman of the Chamber of Commerce, stated that China is the third largest export market for goods in Los Angeles. The long-term cooperative relationship between California and Los Angeles and various provinces and cities in China has achieved significant results, covering many fields such as energy, scientific research, investment, trade, and logistics.

She pointed out that although the current period of US China economic and trade relations is critical, and the trade field is facing uncertainty and complexity, more attention should be paid to strengthening the long-term cooperative relationship with China.

The San Francisco Bay Area Commission in Northern California represents over 330 of the largest companies with the highest number of employees in San Francisco and Silicon Valley. The chairman of the commission, Jim Wandman, told reporters, "Our relationship with China is crucial to us

Wangdeman pointed out that tariffs are currently the most concerning issue for businesses, bringing too much uncertainty. Most member companies believe that tariffs are not a good strategy to improve economic structure.

He said that in complex situations, strengthening local cooperation is even more important. "When China and the United States work together, the world will be a better place. So we need to make more efforts to reaffirm the value of this relationship.

Stephen Zhang, President and CEO of the Los Angeles World Trade Center, emphasized that investment and innovation cooperation with China have created prosperity for Los Angeles, and the relationship with China is one of the most important relationships in California's global cooperation.

California Governor Newson announced on April 16th that he is suing the Trump administration over tariffs, making California the first state in the United States to sue the Trump administration over tariffs. Newson has repeatedly strongly criticized the Trump administration for abusing tariff policies, which have had serious consequences for the California economy, particularly causing disproportionate damage to small and medium-sized enterprises. During this forum, some small and medium-sized enterprises in California actively sought to achieve more direct "docking" with Chinese enterprises while roast about the pain caused by tariffs.

Sean Morris, a small business owner who provides products and services to Hollywood, complained that business has been struggling in recent years, and now the Trump administration's tariff policies "may become the last straw that breaks our company.

Michael Tibery, a small business owner who produces ultraviolet lighting equipment, said, "Tariffs are a nightmare for American companies." His company is almost paralyzed, and a component purchased in China is not even produced in the United States. "Who can help us

Dan Soman, Co Executive Director of the "Collision Instrument" Foundation, told reporters that he hopes the cooperation between the two countries in green energy and addressing climate change will not be disrupted by political issues. "How to build a green shipping corridor, improve agricultural practices, and reduce carbon emissions... are issues that should be discussed and done to promote the development of bilateral relations.