The Latest: GOP governor bolsters trade diplomacy with China

The Latest on state governors and concerns about foreign trade and investment (all times local):

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12:45 p.m.

The Republican governor of Arkansas is sending the state's economic development director on an additional trip to China to meet with companies that are making investments within his state amid concerns about deteriorating U.S.-China trade relations.

Gov. Asa Hutchinson says Arkansas has attracted a significant amount of foreign investment and that he wants to "keep it on target." The expedition to China would take place before the end of the year.

Hutchinson spoke Thursday while on the sidelines at the National Governors Association meeting in New Mexico. The initial discussion at the conference has been dominated by threats to international commerce.

The first term governor who is seeking re-election says he is hoping for a quick solution to the threat of rising tariffs between the U.S. and China, and is also eager to safeguard economic ties with Mexico and Canada.

Political leaders in agricultural states fear volatility in commodity markets as President Donald Trump contemplates additional new tariffs.

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10:30 a.m.

A Chinese emissary is warning at a meeting of U.S. state governors that a trade war with his country won't be easily won.

China Consul General to Los Angeles Zhang Ping said Thursday that advocates of a trade war should "know that a trade war is not something that can easily be won."

Zhang spoke at the start of a meeting in New Mexico of the National Governors Association.

Zhang says ordinary people would bear the brunt of U.S.-China trade disputes.

More than 20 governors were scheduled to attend the three-day conference that delves into foreign investments in state economies.

The U.S. and China are locked in a trade war over American complaints that Chinese companies steal trade secrets and force U.S. firms to hand over technology in return for market access.

President Donald Trump's proposed tariffs on imported cars, trucks and auto parts are running into united opposition from automakers, dealers and suppliers.

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1:00 a.m.

State governors are looking for ways to court foreign investment and commerce in the shadows of President Trump's aggressive use of tariffs in trade disputes with countries including China and U.S. neighbors.

Discussions about economic ties with China were scheduled for Thursday as more than 20 state governors gather in New Mexico's state capital for a National Governors Association meeting.

The U.S. and China are threatening a trade war over American complaints that Chinese companies steal trade secrets and force U.S. firms to hand over technology in return for market access.

President Trump has slapped tariffs on imported steel and aluminum, provoking retaliatory measures by Canada, Mexico and U.S. allies in the European Union.

Brookings Institution Fellow Joseph Parilla says governors can resort to direct diplomacy on trade and employment.