Uncertainties created by the United States’ tariff blitz are not only disrupting global supply chains, but also causing investors to delay decisions, entrepreneurs and policymakers said at the “Summer Davos” forum.
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The warning at the annual gathering, which kicked off in the northern Chinese city of Tianjin on Tuesday, came as the trade war continued to cast a chill over the global economy, with US President Donald Trump threatening to reimpose tariffs on dozens of countries within weeks.
“Everybody is pausing” due to the uncertainty over US trade policies, which are creating a “very challenging” situation for global businesses, said Victor Chu Lap-lik, chairman and CEO of the Hong Kong-based First Eastern Investment Group, during a panel discussion at the World Economic Forum event.
“If you were to build an additional plant today, you can’t price your investment because you don’t know what the actual pricing will be three or four years down the road,” he added.
“And there are feelings that if you invest in certain countries, you’ll get pressure from other governments.”
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The trade war threatens to exacerbate a pullback in global investment that was already gaining steam last year, acting as a drag on economic growth.