Pursuits
U.S. 'Ham Capital' Proves Chinese Investment Can Be a Good Thing
- China owner has overseen expansion in U.S. jobs since takeover
- Townspeople can ‘wave our flags’ or accept globalization
Pig decorations sit on display inside the Christmas Store in Smithfield, Virginia.
Photographer: Andrew Harrer/BloombergThis article is for subscribers only.
When Chinese suitors took over the pork producer in Smithfield, Virginia, it sent tremors through the tiny town that calls itself the Ham Capital of the World.
Three years on, residents and union leaders who represent workers at Smithfield Foods Inc. say the initial fears about the buyer from a Communist-ruled nation proved unfounded. The happy marriage so far belies the rhetoric on the U.S. presidential campaign trail that depicts China as an untrustworthy business partner, and serves as an example of Chinese investment that can benefit both countries.