Chinese tech workers expecting to attend US CES trade show report visa problems

As more than a thousand Chinese tech companies prepare to showcase their latest products at the CES (formerly known as the Consumer Electronics Show) in Las Vegas, the world’s leading tech exhibition, many employees are reporting being denied US visas despite holding invitations to attend.

Analysts said that such CES visa denials were unprecedented and signalled a further deterioration in bilateral relations.

First held in 1967, CES is a global platform for the technology industry and a business-to-business hub that sets the stage for the year ahead in trade and innovation. The next show takes place from January 7 through 10, days before US president-elect Donald Trump assumes office on January 20.

Around 4,000 exhibitors from around the world have registered to attend, with more than 30 per cent estimated to be from China.

The visa rejections come as US-China tensions escalate, with Trump vowing to impose a 10 per cent tariff on all Chinese imports and pledging to protect American manufacturers by imposing stricter restrictions on Chinese companies’ access to the US market.

“There’s so much disappointment,” said a 28-year-old tech marketer in Beijing, who requested anonymity because she plans to reapply at a different US consulate in China.