Arkansas’ opposition to Chinese-owned companies reverses state policy dating to at least 2008 (opens in new tab)

In 2008, the Arkansas Economic Development Commission opened a trade office in Shanghai. "We were looking for economic opportunity and anything that would create jobs for Arkansans," said former Gov. Mike Beebe. His successor, former Gov. Asa Hutchinson, said Arkansas was "recruiting industries in non-sensitive sectors and had a number of successes, but the tariff war started, and most of these investments were canceled."