U.S. and China are divided on tariffs, but fast food is their common ground as burgers come to China and boba tea grows in the U.S.

Despite rising trade tensions, fast food has become a cultural bridge between the United States and China. American chains are accelerating their expansion in China: McDonald’s plans to open 1,000 new restaurants this year and Burger King aims to triple its footprint to 4,000 stores by 2035. Meanwhile, Chinese brands like Mixue, Heytea and Luckin Coffee are testing the U.S. market with bubble tea and coffee concepts. KFC, the first major American chain to enter mainland China in 1987, now operates approximately 13,000 restaurants there versus 3,750 in the United States. Food has become a tool of gastrodiplomacy amid the ongoing trade war.

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