President Donald Trump’s eldest son cautioned against investing in China during an event for investors in Zurich, saying, "I don't think we can pretend they're an ally."
Trump Jr. made these remarks while he and his wife, Bettina Anderson, were on their honeymoon attending an exclusive meeting of prominent business leaders in Zurich on Thursday afternoon at the invitation of Davos Lodge.
Roughly 60 invited attendees included John Koudounis, President and CEO of Calamos Investments.
When asked if he would consider investing in China, Trump Jr. responded promptly: "I wouldn’t." He added, "I don’t think we can pretend they’re an ally. That would be, I think, foolish."
Trump Jr., who now serves as executive vice president of the Trump Organization alongside his brother Eric, has actively pursued international real estate and development ventures since his father's return to the presidency.
He explained to the Swiss audience that he views the Chinese legal framework as inherently biased against foreign companies.
“I can’t name someone who is not Chinese, who has done business in China, who ever won a lawsuit,” Trump Jr. said.
In China's legal system, the judiciary is deeply tied to the ruling Chinese Communist Party (CCP), meaning disputes involving state-backed Chinese entities are incredibly difficult for foreign firms to win.
Under China’s policy, foreign companies looking to operate in several of China's key sectors were mandated to form joint ventures with local partners—a structure that has frequently led to disputes.
Foreign direct investment (FDI) continues to fall, despite the CCP rolling out various policies and measures to try to stop the exodus.
Trump Jr. also argued that Western countries must reduce their reliance on China.
“It is high time that the West frees itself from its dependence on China,” he said. “This cannot happen overnight, of course. But it is important that we finally take this step.”
Pivoting to Europe, he said that the continent needs to build its own self-reliance rather than continuing to depend on the United States.
Trump Jr.’s warnings come as the Trump administration actively moves to improve trade ties. The U.S. Trade Representative recently opened public comments on a new agreement negotiated by Trump and Xi Jinping, which aims to cut tariffs on approximately $30 billion worth of non-strategic, national security-safe goods from each country.