Dentons’ decision to quit the country and new investment limits by the Biden administration underscore the growing challenges facing Western companies there.
The measure to clamp down on investments in certain industries deemed to pose security risks, set to be issued Wednesday, appears likely to open a new front in the U.S.-China economic conflict.
Shipments to trading partners slid 14.5 percent in July from the year before, the biggest decline since February 2020, adding to the pressure on Chinese authorities trying to rekindle growth.
It was a steep fall from last year’s record profit, but still enough for the company to introduce additional dividend payments and increase capital investment.