US Chamber of Commerce warns of rise in risks for businesses in China

The US Chamber of Commerce has warned that rising scrutiny of American firms in China "dramatically increases" the uncertainties and risks of doing business in the country.

The influential business lobby said it was closely monitoring "heightened official scrutiny" of US firms by the Chinese authorities, following the questioning of employees at management consultancy Bain & Company in Shanghai and the shutdown of the Beijing of due diligence provider Mintz Group, reports CNN.

"The services these firms provide are fundamental to establishing investor confidence in any market, including China," the chamber said in a statement, without naming either company.


The events are particularly troubling given an amendment to an already extensive counter-espionage law in China, which widened the scope of the kind of materials and data the country deems relevant to national security, the group added.

The law was revised last week, and set to take effect in July.

"This is a matter of serious concern for the investor community and likely is as well for their local business partners in China," said the chamber, which is led by President Suzanne Clark, CNN reported.