People seem to have forgotten that Barack Obama remains the President of the United States, while the world is keenly keeping an eye on actions of president-elect Donald Trump. Obama is still empowered to endorse resolutions. For instance, he blocked the deal on Germany’s Aixtron takeover by China’s investment fund.
It is only the third similar case. Before this one, Washington declined foreign investment only two times. Last time Barack Obama ordered Ralls Corporation to divest itself of four small wind farm projects placed near a US Navy weapons systems training facility in Oregon in 2012. In 1990 President George H. W. Bush stopped the sale of MAMCO Manufacturing to a Chinese agency.
Aixtron technologies could be used to produce LEDs, lasers, transistors, solar cells and other devices that could serve military purposes in the spheres of satellite radio systems and radiolocation. Aixtron products are used in many US defense spheres.
However, Chinese buyers should not count on Trump. During the campaign trail, the Republican reiterated that he would introduce the 45% tax on Chinese imports and would classify China as a currency manipulator. Trump could introduce these changes after he officially takes up the office on January 20.
