NAM was hacked By China as Trade Talks Intensified over the Summer

As trade talks between Washington and Beijing intensified earlier this year, suspected Chinese hackers broke into an industry group for U.S. manufacturers that has helped shape President Donald Trump’s trade policies, according to two people familiar with the matter.

The National Association of Manufacturers (NAM) was hacked over the summer and hired a cybersecurity firm, which concluded the attackme fro cam China, the two sources said.

The security firm, which the sources did not name, made the assessment based on the usage of tools and techniques previously associated with known Chinese hacking groups, they said.

The hack of an internal computer network at a powerful Washington industry group illustrates how China has tried to gain an advantage in the trade war between the world’s two biggest economies.

It is unclear what data was stolen. NAM hired the outside cybersecurity firm to respond to the breach and stop the intrusion.

Spokeswoman Erin Streeter said that given NAM’s high profile, “we know we are a target for cyber-attacks. We identified suspicious activity relating to certain company systems and investigated the matter.”

She added that their network is now secure. The White House did not respond to a request for comment.

Speaking in Beijing, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Geng Shuang said the accusations were “creating something from nothing and have ulterior motives.”

China is a staunch safeguarder of internet security and opposes all forms of hacking, Geng told a daily news briefing.

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