K Street Is Cashing In On the U.S.-China Trade War

Welcome to Pay Dirtexclusive reporting and research from The Daily Beasts Lachlan Markay on corruption, campaign finance, and influence-peddling in the nations capital. For Beast Inside members only.

The Trump administrations hard line on China is turning into a K Street gold rush. Trade restrictions and national-security crackdowns have led to an unprecedented spike in the number of Chinese-owned firms seeking hired help to navigate the increasingly hostile policy arena.

Since 2017, companies that reported a Chinese ownership interest have collectively signed 48 new lobbying contracts, according to disclosure records. Since last year, such companies have inked deals with as many K Street firms as they did during the entirety of the Obama administration.