Companies from the United States are expanding their presence at China's flagship import expo, underscoring China's enduring appeal as a consumer market and manufacturing hub amid an evolving global trade and investment landscape.
From agricultural products and advanced manufacturing technologies, to innovative industrial goods and logistics solutions, US companies including Archer-Daniels-Midland, Rockwell Automation, 3M and FedEx are showcasing their latest offerings at the 9th China International Import Expo, which runs from Thursday to Tuesday in Shanghai.
Senior executives from those companies said that China's vast market, industrial upgrading and growing demand for innovation continue to create opportunities for US businesses.
US exhibitors have secured more than 50,000 square meters of exhibition space at the CIIE this year, an increase of 1,500 square meters from last year, according to the Ministry of Commerce. The US has ranked first among participating countries and regions by exhibition area for eight consecutive years.
ADM, the Chicago, Illinois-based agribusiness group and a seven-time CIIE participant, plans to sign agreements worth 32 billion yuan ($4.8 billion) with customers and industry partners for soybean and grain imports at this year's expo.
Quan Ping, president of ADM China, said the CIIE provides an opportunity to better understand customer needs, deepen industry partnerships and turn global expertise into practical solutions tailored to the Chinese market.
"We aim to combine our global capabilities with local market insights to create greater value for customers and partners, while bringing more innovative products and solutions to China," Quan said.
Rockwell Automation, which is exhibiting at the CIIE for the sixth consecutive year, is showcasing new automation controllers and smart manufacturing solutions as the US company seeks to tap into China's growing demand for industrial artificial intelligence and more efficient production systems.
Ian Shih, president of Rockwell Automation (China), said his company sees opportunities in China's intelligent equipment, new energy, life sciences, advanced manufacturing and industrial digitalization sectors, driven by growing demand for smarter and more flexible production systems.
Fu Suixin, an associate researcher at the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences' Institute of American Studies, said that US multinationals increasingly see China as more than a sales market, given its role in global innovation and supply chains and the deep economic ties between the two countries.
Investment momentum
The continued interest is also reflected in investment flows. China's actual use of foreign investment from the US rose 7.7 percent year-on-year in the first nine months of 2026, while more than 6,300 foreign-invested companies made additional investments in China, data from the Ministry of Commerce showed.
US industrial group 3M, which has never missed an edition of the CIIE, is showcasing its latest technologies and products in automotive, electronics, safety, manufacturing materials and automation, with several products making their global or China debuts.
"We have always viewed the CIIE as a key trade fair for showcasing cutting-edge innovations and expanding local partnerships," said Henry Ding, president of 3M China.
He added that 3M and Chinese sportswear company Anta Sports Products will sign a memorandum of understanding at the event to establish a joint innovation laboratory focused on applications of sustainable materials in outdoor sports.
US express transportation company FedEx is showcasing solutions in smart logistics, sustainable operations and specialized transportation services this year at the CIIE.
Poh-Yian Koh, president of FedEx China, said that as AI, digitalization and evolving supply chains reshape global commerce, Chinese businesses need more than transportation. They require trusted partners that can provide the connectivity, visibility and resilience needed to expand globally.
Wu Di, deputy head of the department of foreign investment administration at the Ministry of Commerce, said China will expand opening-up trials in cloud computing, biotechnology and wholly foreign-owned hospitals, and create new opportunities in emerging industries and digital and low-carbon development.
