Investors Swarm to China!

Twenty US investors are already planning a trip to China just days before the TikTok divestiture closes, raising alarms about American capital flowing to a geopolitical rival despite President Trump’s tough national security stance.

Story Snapshot

The Institute of International Finance (IIF) schedules a China Investor Trip for January 20, 2026, with at least 20 US investors confirmed planning to attend amid open registration.
Event coincides with TikTok’s US unit separation from ByteDance, closing January 22, 2026, under Trump’s executive order easing some tech tensions.
China’s reforms, including zero manufacturing restrictions and rising new foreign-invested enterprises (FIEs), draw US interest despite ongoing frictions like Taiwan sanctions.
US investors seek China’s scale, talent pool of 5 million STEM graduates, and market access, but risks persist from regulatory gatekeeping and geopolitics.

IIF Organizes High-Level Investor Trip

The Institute of International Finance schedules its 2026 China Investor Trip for Tuesday, January 20, 2026, from 8:30 AM to 10:30 AM CET. Registration remains open as of early January 2026. Reports confirm at least 20 US investors plan to participate. This in-person event targets high-level financiers amid China’s market reforms. President Trump’s successful TikTok divestiture, closing two days later, frames this as selective re-engagement. Such trips normalize US capital pursuits in Beijing’s ecosystem despite patriotic calls for domestic focus.

US Investor Interest Persists Amid Reforms

China registers 53,782 new foreign-invested enterprises in the first 10 months of 2025, up 14.7% year-over-year, even as total FDI dips. Reforms eliminate all manufacturing restrictions via the Negative List. Pilots permit 100% foreign ownership in data centers, telecom, and cell/gene therapy. US investors eye China’s 5 million annual STEM graduates and 7 million R&D personnel for speed-to-scale advantages. These factors drive participation, prioritizing profits over full decoupling urged by Trump supporters wary of globalist entanglements.

Key Stakeholders and Motivations

IIF organizes the trip to bridge US financiers with Chinese opportunities. US investors seek supply chain access and defensive market presence. Chinese authorities promote high-quality FDI through 23 FTAs, 110 BITs, and 114 tax treaties. The Trump administration enables the adjacent TikTok deal, separating the US unit with majority American ownership and under 20% ByteDance stake. This dynamic highlights capital leverage against Beijing’s regulatory controls, fostering symbiosis that frustrates America First priorities.

ByteDance CEO Shou Zi Chew announces the JV ensures continuity for 170 million US users. Trump praises Xi’s approval in September 2025. Chinese FM maintains a consistent position on the platform. These statements signal cautious thaw, yet experts warn of potential Beijing vetoes undermining security gains.

TikTok Timeline and Geopolitical Context

TikTok signs US JV agreements in late 2025, closing January 22, 2026, post-IIF trip. Trump’s September 2025 executive order provides a 120-day window from prior bans. China liberalizes manufacturing in September 2024 and expands pilots in key zones. Geopolitical strains persist, including US arms to Taiwan triggering sanctions. Investors weigh these risks against China’s 10th Global Innovation Index ranking and zero barriers in healthcare, telecom, education.

Implications for US Interests

Short-term, the trip boosts networking and potential FDI acceleration in biotech and telecom post-TikTok. Long-term, it reinforces China’s inflows amid projected FIE rises, tempered by tensions. US firms gain resilience via scale; Chinese entities access capital. Politically, ownership shifts ease security fears under Trump’s balanced deals. Broader effects stabilize supply chains but erode self-reliance, conflicting with conservative drives to repatriate manufacturing and limit adversarial entanglements.