53rd Annual Membership Meeting

Sean Stein, President, US-China Business Council

With the US-China trade relationship entering a new phase, a persistently sluggish Chinese economy, and an increasingly complex regulatory environment, US businesses operating in China are facing a different set of challenges than even a year ago. This panel of practitioners from USCBC member companies will draw on firsthand experience to discuss how companies are adapting their operations, managing exposure to volatile tariffs and retaliatory measures, and holding their own against increasingly capable Chinese competitors. They’ll also address how shifting industrial policy, supply chain restructuring, and market access challenges are reshaping business decisions—and what strategies are working for companies committed to staying in the market.

American brands in China are under pressure—from geopolitical tensions that have made “foreign brands” appear less reliable in some contexts, to increasingly capable domestic competitors and rising costs of localized customer services. At the same time, Chinese consumers are spending again but more selectively than before. This panel of experts will discuss how American brands can strategically allocate business and operational resources to manage reputations in a politically sensitive environment, compete with sophisticated local players, and adapt marketing and product strategies to meet the evolving expectations of Chinese consumers.

The US-China policy environment in Washington has rarely been more fluid. Tariffs, export controls, and a steady stream of China-focused legislation are keeping government affairs teams stretched, while planned meetings between the two presidents may further dictate where the relationship is headed—and what this means for American business. This panel of veteran government affairs experts will share how companies are navigating Capitol Hill and the administration right now, identifying leverage points, and positioning themselves to influence outcomes in an environment where everything is changing.

Jonathan Fritz, former principal deputy assistant secretary of state for East Asian and Pacific Affairs at the US Department of State, will join USCBC President Sean Stein for a keynote fireside chat

Jonathan Fritz retired from the State Department in April 2026 after a 32-year career as a US diplomat. He most recently served as the principal deputy assistant secretary of state for East Asian and Pacific Affairs (2025–2026), the chief of staff to the under secretary of state for Economic Growth, Energy and the Environment (2021–2025), and the deputy assistant secretary of state for East Asian and Pacific Affairs covering China, Mongolia, and Taiwan (2019–2021). Before that, he had been the director for Bilateral and Regional Affairs in the Economic and Business Affairs Bureau’s Office of International Communications and Information Policy.

Prior to returning to Washington, Jonathan had been posted at the US Embassy in Beijing, where he served alternately as minister-counselor for economic affairs, chief of staff to the ambassador, acting deputy chief of mission, and chargé d’affaires. From 2010–2014, Jonathan headed the economic sections of the US embassies in Canberra and Kabul. Before that, he worked on trade, investment, and IPR issues in Beijing, Mexico City, and Hong Kong. He also served in Washington as a special assistant to the deputy secretary, as a trade negotiator in the Office of the US Trade Representative, and as a desk officer in the State Department’s Office of Chinese and Mongolian Affairs.

Jonathan began his Foreign Service career with consular tours in China and Ecuador. He spent two years at the US Air Force Academy and graduated from Stanford University with a B.A. and an M.A. in East Asian studies. He is married to Foreign Service officer Nancy Chen. They have three children.