To provide a method for producing a 2-carboxy-4'-(trifluoromethyl)biphenyl useful as a medicine intermediate, etc., in a short process according to a simple method without requiring special reagents or apparatuses.

The method for producing the 2-carboxy-4'-(trifluoromethyl)biphenyl comprises chlorinating 4'-methylbiphenyl-2-carbonitrile, providing a 4'-(trichloromethyl)biphenyl-2-carbonitrile, then fluorinating the resultant compound, affording 4'-(trifluoromethyl)biphenyl-2-carbonitrile and hydrolyzing the obtained compound.