Wisconsin Watch partners with Gigafact to produce fact briefs — bite-sized fact checks of trending claims. Read our methodology to learn how we check claims.
No.
A deal in South Carolina that gave land to a Chinese company was done at the county level.
The Richland County Council gave 197 acres to China Jushi as part of a 2016 deal to attract investment from the Chinese fiberglass products manufacturer.
In 2019, China Jushi broke ground on the land on what was reported to be a $300 million plant.
Nikki Haley, a 2024 Republican presidential candidate, was South Carolina governor when the deal was made. At the time, she called it a “huge win” for South Carolina. While campaigning in October 2023, she said she recruited the company.
A TV ad running in Wisconsin that attacks Haley used her “huge win” quote and said “the government on her watch” gave 200 acres to a Chinese company.
The ad is from Fight Right, a super PAC supporting Republican presidential candidate Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis.
This Fact Brief is responsive to conversations such as this one.
Sources
Richland County Council: Regular Session Nov. 1, 2016
Post and Courier: China Jushi Breaks Ground in Richland County
South Carolina Department of Commerce: China Jushi bringing 80,000-ton fiberglass production line to Richland County
Washington Post: Nikki Haley misleads town hall audience on Chinese land acquisitions
iSpot.tv | Realtime TV Advertising Performance Measurement: Fight Right Inc. TV Spot, ‘Tricky Nikki’
Republish our articles for free, online or in print, under a Creative Commons license.
