Research & Analysis

On June 28, China’s top legislature, the National People’s Congress (NPC) Standing Committee, adopted the Foreign Relations Law (FRL) after a second reading.

On May 29, the National People’s Congress (NPC) released its 2023 Legislative Work Plan, which outlines 13 laws to be reviewed by the NPC Standing Committee (NPCSC) during the June, August, and December NPC sessions. Shortly after, the State Council released its 2023 Legislative Work Plan, listing 17 laws and 17 regulations to be drafted and/or revised this year.

The week saw more senior level engagement between the United States and China, building on a commitment to look for areas ripe for collaboration made by both sides during Secretary of State Antony Blinken’s recent meetings in Beijing.

The Cyberspace Administration of China (CAC) released the draft Generative AI Services Management Plan on April 11. The plan would require service providers to adhere to stringent requirements to oppose algorithmic bias, prevent dissemination of information violating Chinese law, and protect personal information.

On June 18, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken traveled to China for a two-day official visit in what was the first Cabinet-level trip to China during the Biden administration and the first trip by a US secretary of state to China in five years.

Secretary of State Antony Blinken’s visit to China over the weekend marked a significant step in the ongoing dialogue between the United States and China. Blinken engaged in a series of meetings with key Chinese officials, including President Xi Jinping, Foreign Minister Qin Gang, and China’s top diplomat Wang Yi.

Secretary of State Antony Blinken will travel to Beijing this weekend for meetings with senior Chinese officials. On Wednesday, Blinken and China’s Foreign Minister Qin Gang spoke by phone, offering a preview of what both sides wish to discuss during the visit.

US-China bilateral trade in goods has decreased significantly in 2023 after reaching a record high in 2022. This trend is in large part due to economic challenges in China that have impacted Chinese demand for US goods, as well as supply chain diversification, which has resulted in fewer US imports from China in favor of more imports from other countries.

China’s protection and enforcement of intellectual property (IP) rights remains a key challenge for both US companies and a key issue for the US government. The Office of the US Trade Representative said in its  2023 Special 301 Report that the slow pace of China’s IP reform is a “serious concern.”

Over the last several months, both the United States and China have issued plans to support standards-setting activities in emerging sectors in an attempt to ensure first-mover advantages over one another and their global competitors.