China Market Intelligence

During the 118th Congress, all eyes will be on the newly established Select Committee on Strategic Competition Between the United States and the Chinese Communist Party. Still, it is important to note that the select committee will not have any legislative authority, and that the  standing committees will still hold full power to craft, introduce, and mark up legislation.

China’s state-owned enterprises (SOEs) are an integral part of the country’s economic system, and their intimate ties to the government make them a key vehicle through which policymakers can influence economic outcomes. As such, SOEs are expected to play a critical role in China’s economic recovery, resiliency initiatives, and other plans such as decarbonization and dual circulation.

More than three years after the first COVID-19 case was reported, China has finally made a decisive u-turn, veering away from the zero-COVID regime and toward co-existing with the virus. On December 7, 2022, the National Health Commission (NHC) released 10 measures that effectively dismantled its stringent requirements.

Last month, to the surprise and joy of many, China announced a major shift in its COVID-19 strategy, from prevention and control to treatment and openness. China relaxed a slew of restrictions, making it easier to travel to and within China.

Skepticism and competition defined the US-China relationship for much of 2022, and these themes are expected to continue this year. With the tech competition intensifying and a renewed focus on China in the US Congress, this year will likely bring more uncertainty and continued challenges for multinational companies.

From all our staff at USCBC, we thank you for your membership and the confidence you place in our services to you. As we begin our 50th anniversary year, I would like to highlight some of the accomplishments made together with you in 2022 and share some observations on the year ahead.

From December 15 to December 16, senior Chinese leaders convened for the Central Economic Work Conference (CEWC) to discuss key economic goals for the year ahead. At this year’s conference, implementing a new development pattern emerged as a key theme—signaling a focus on revitalizing economic growth.

In March 2022, China set an annual 2022 growth target of 5.5 percent, a goal the economy will almost certainly not meet. Following COVID-19 outbreaks, a declining property sector, slowing consumer confidence, and weakening exports, the median growth forecast sits at 3.3 percent. Looking ahead, China will likely continue to face a similar set of challenges for 2023.

With the Senate staying in Democratic hands, committee leadership will stay relatively intact. However, multiple long-time GOP legislators retired at the end of the 117th Congress, paving the way for new committee leadership on the Republican side.

In October, the Chinese Communist Party announced top party personnel changes and delivered its work report at the 20th Party Congress. The work report lays out priorities and strategic plans for the Chinese government, including facilitating high-quality development and strengthening national security under a more centralized decision-making framework, and the personnel changes have implications for how these priorities will be carried out.