Alibaba's President Talks US-China Relations Under A Trump Administration

Michael Evans, Alibaba Group Holding Ltd BABA President, was a guest on CNBC Friday to offer his take on what the US-China relationship will look like when President-elect Donald Trump is sworn in as president.

Jim Cramer posed the question top on everyone's mind: is politics related to consumer spending habits? Specifically, will Chinese consumers shy away from American-made products if the Trump administration takes a harsh stance against China?

Evans, a Canadian who serves as President of one of China's most powerful companies and its largest online retailer, answered bluntly that there is no answer.

"I don't know the direct answer but let me give you my view on this," he said. "The United States is a great country, China is a great country - the two biggest economies in the world. If those two countries work together then both of those countries will do extremely well but even more importantly the rest of the world will do well - and the rest of the world is relying on the United States and China to figure it out."

Evans was speaking at a time when Alibaba is hosting its Singles' Day, which is the company's own version of Black Friday. The executive noted that the biggest beneficiary of the selling event is actually American brands as thousands of companies are exporting their products to Chinese consumers through Alibaba's platform.

"I think Trump will be pragmatic in thinking about what is the benefit to the U.S. in being able to attach those businesses to the Chinese consumer and in the future consumers across Asia as we continue to globalize," Evans concluded.

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Posted In: CNBCJim CramerPoliticsMediaGeneralAlibabaDonald TrumpMichael EvansSquawk on the StreetUS China Relations
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