Trump's secret allies in China

Chinese private entrepreneurs play a big part in driving the economy, but face similar obstacles as foreign firms

New: Gift this subscriber-only story to your friends and family

In his tariff war with China, United States President Donald Trump has some hidden allies.

Just about every complaint US trade negotiators raised in Beijing last week - not to mention their doubts about the sincerity of China's concessions - are shared by Chinese entrepreneurs, who feel as underappreciated and unwelcome as their foreign counterparts.

Already a subscriber? 

Read the full story and more at $9.90/month

Get exclusive reports and insights with more than 500 subscriber-only articles every month

Unlock these benefits

  • All subscriber-only content on ST app and straitstimes.com

  • Easy access any time via ST app on 1 mobile device

  • E-paper with 2-week archive so you won't miss out on content that matters to you

Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you.

A version of this article appeared in the print edition of The Straits Times on January 15, 2019, with the headline Trump's secret allies in China. Subscribe