The Consumer Electronics Show (CES) held annually in January in Las Vegas, USA, is the world’s largest and most influential exhibition of consumer electronics products. With the ongoing deterioration of US-China relations, many employees of Chinese tech companies have expressed difficulty in obtaining US visas despite being invited to CES.
CES, which was first held in 1967, serves as a global platform for the technology industry and a center for interaction between enterprises, laying the foundation for trade and innovation for the upcoming year. The next edition of the exhibition is scheduled to take place from January 7th to 10th.
According to a report by the South China Morning Post on November 30th, over a thousand Chinese tech companies are planning to participate in CES, but many employees have reported being denied US visas even with exhibition invitations.
A 28-year-old tech marketing professional in Beijing, whose visa was rejected, told the South China Morning Post that during her visa interview at the US Embassy, she informed the interviewer that she intended to visit her clients in the US and attend CES. She showed the invitation letter clearly stating her intention to attend CES.
She requested anonymity as she plans to reapply for a visa at another US consulate in China. After talking with colleagues in the industry, she learned that many other tech companies were facing similar issues. “They told me that if you mention attending CES, there’s a 90% chance of being denied a visa.”
A spokesperson for CES, in an email to the South China Morning Post, acknowledged that some CES participants and exhibitors from China had their business travel visa applications denied. The email stated, “We encourage the US government to expedite and approve visas for individuals traveling to the United States for legitimate business reasons.”
Chris Pereira, the founder of the consulting firm iMpact based in New York, posted on LinkedIn this month that in a cross-cultural leadership training program for Chinese companies expanding their overseas business, he learned that half of the 40 companies participating reported that despite holding formal CES invitation letters, their employees were still denied visas.
In a recent interview, Pereira mentioned that since his post, at least three clients reported that their employees were denied visas to attend CES. “They were rejected immediately, without any reason provided. Such visa denials are relatively rare,” he stated.
Amid the ongoing deterioration of US-China relations post-pandemic, involving issues from alleged Chinese espionage activities to disputes in the South China Sea and Taiwan Strait, and the US-China semiconductor war, the two countries are currently in a confrontational state. President-elect Trump vowed to impose a 10% tariff on all Chinese imports and promised to restrict Chinese companies’ access to the US market to safeguard American manufacturers.
On Saturday, Trump also warned BRICS countries that if they wish to “de-dollarize,” they will face a 100% tariff, with China being a key member of the BRICS nations.
Pereira noted that the CES visa rejections reflect a trend of reduced exchange between the US and Beijing, encompassing flights, trade, and dialogues.
Jamie Greer, the trade representative nominated by President-elect Trump, advocates for strategic decoupling from China, viewing the Communist-ruled China as a “generational challenge” to the US. “There is no panacea, and in some cases, strategic decoupling from China will cause short-term pain,” he said. “However, the cost of inaction or underestimating the threat posed by China (the CCP) is much greater.”