We’re going to apply to the US what we learned in China

Regarding potential business disruptions from the ongoing U.S.-China trade war, Johnson struck an unconcerned note.

Given in how many markets the company operates, “there’s always something going on in geopolitical relationships,” so Starbucks has learned “to navigate those things,” he said.

“We’re not immune to the geopolitical situation, but we’re navigating it in a way that we think is authentic to us and reflects our long-term commitment to this market,” Johnson told CNBC.

So, he added, rather than reassessing its local investments, Starbucks will continue “playing the long game in China.”