Yeah I was mainly trying to draw a comparison with the Houston consulate, it's not going to be a major economic impact in a general sense. But taken together with all the other challenges that region and international business in general are facing in China it's not going to help.

In areas where there is a significant foreign business community the presence of consulates and diplomatic officials is symbiotic because it contributes to the creation of good international schools, expat themed restaurants, mutually beneficial social networks, etc. This is especially true in China where there are relatively few foreigners in the tier 2 cities. The U.S. mission is usually the largest foreign mission in these cities and the staff form a small but important clientele for local businesses and schools.

After talking to a lot of foreign executives, they often mention the lack of these types of schools and businesses as the major factor preventing them from settling down in China for longer than a year or two or bringing their family over while assigned there. So in that sense I think these consulates serve a function there that they don't in say, Chicago or Strasbourg.