American companies operating in China are navigating a period of adjustment shaped by economic and political uncertainty, evolving regulatory priorities, and a shifting bilateral relationship. While longstanding structural challenges remain, the latest data suggest a more nuanced picture than simple narratives of decline or decoupling—one marked by adaptation, selective investment, and cautious optimism about the year ahead.
In a conversation recorded February 11, 2026, Zongyuan Zoe Liu, Maurice R. Greenberg senior fellow for China Studies the Council on Foreign Relations, speaks with Michael Hart, president of the American Chamber of Commerce in China, about AmCham China’s 2026 China Business Climate Survey Report which was published in January. Mr. Hart discusses why “resilience” emerged as the report’s central theme, the shift in top business challenges from geopolitics to China’s slowing economy, and the implications of improved bilateral sentiment following renewed high-level engagement.