14 DAY TRIAL // Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella traveled to China to meet Liu Yunshan, a senior leader of the Communist Party of China (CPC), and discuss a series of topics, including ways to improve collaboration between the company and the country.
Local media is reporting that Microsoft’s CEO praised the firm’s partnership with China and promised to work together with the country on developing new products.
Liu, who according to CCTV is a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee, said “he hoped Microsoft would share its technology with China and contribute to cooperation between Chinese and U.S. businesses.”
Donald Trump’s 45 percent import tariff
While it’s not clear what exactly Microsoft sharing technology with China actually means, the software giant is clearly playing a key role in the tech partnership between the United States and China, especially now that Donald Trump has been elected the new President of the US.
Furthermore, the meeting comes only one day after China issued a warning regarding an import tariff that President Trump might propose according to the promises he made during the presidential campaign.
In an effort to force American companies invest more in domestic production, Trump said he would impose a 45 percent import tariff on Chinese goods. China, on the other hand, warned that should the new President go for such a rule, the country would adopt a tit-for-tat approach, planning similar taxes for US companies that are doing business within its borders.
Apple was named as one of the companies that would be significantly impacted should Donald Trump go forward with this tax, but there’s no doubt that Microsoft itself would also be hit.
Satya Nadella most likely discussed this matter as well, especially because Microsoft is betting big on its Chinese operations and it hopes to benefit more from the local growth.