China warns U.S. investment curbs would hurt global growth

BEIJING – China warned Monday that possible U.S. moves to limit investment ties would disrupt the global economy following a report the Trump administration might be considering options including removing Chinese companies from American stock exchanges.

The foreign ministry appealed to Washington to “meet us halfway” and resolve disputes amid a tariff war that threatens to depress global economic growth.

Stock markets slid after Bloomberg News reported last week that U.S. officials were considering restricting investment ties with China. It said other options including banning investments in Chinese companies by government pension funds.

“To exert extreme pressure and even attempt to force the decoupling of China-U.S. relations will definitely damage the interests of U.S. and Chinese enterprises and people, cause financial market turmoil and endanger international trade and the world economic growth,” said a foreign ministry spokesman, Geng Shuang.

Negotiators are due to meet next week in Washington for a 13th round of talks aimed at resolving the tariff war over complaints about Beijing’s trade surplus and technology ambitions.

The two sides have announced conciliatory measures including lifting or postponing punitive tariffs. But there has been no sign of progress toward settling their core disputes. Economists say a temporary agreement is possible but a permanent deal is unlikely this year.

“We hope that the United States will work with China to deepen economic, trade and financial co-operation between the two countries,” Geng said. “We hope the United States will meet us halfway to work out a resolution in a constructive manner.”