Trade Tensions: Relations with China tops agenda of US governors' summer conference

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01:53

Trade tensions and foreign diplomacy are key issues on the minds of US governors right now. Many have gathered in New Mexico for their summer conference. This year, the focus is also on economic relations with China. Mike Walter is in Santa Fe, where he moderated the first panel discussion.

I had the pleasure of moderating the first panel discussion today which focused on Chinese investment in the U.S. and how states are working to attract more of those investment dollars. Panelists say that's why meetings like these are important.

QI BIN VICE GENERAL MANAGER, CHINA INVESTMENT CORP "This competition between the US and China, as we always said, we hope this competition could be a constructive competition, not destructive to strengthen economic ties, I think it's gonna make a difference."

The Colorado Governor was here as well. He calls the current trade war regrettable. I spoke to him one on one to get a sense of how long he thinks it may continue.

JOHN HICKENLOOPER COLORADO GOVERNOR "Let's say the next two years, it's clearly gonna be a bumpy ride. And in many ways I think we are using a sledge hammer when we should be using a small hammer like a thumb tack hammer. We don't have the right tool, the more interesting question is where do we want to see our relationship with China in 20 years or 50 years?"

MIKE WALTER SANTA FE, NEW MEXICO "That's the big question from Governors here, because the longer this goes on, the more damaging these relations can be. What does the long term relationship between China and the US look like when we get to the end of the trade war? That's the question that a lot of these governors are worried about."