Since China declared a “war on pollution” in 2014, environmental protection has become a top political priority, evidenced by tough regulations, enforcement campaigns, and an emphasis in official rhetoric. Stronger environmental enforcement has had mixed effects on US-China Business Council (USCBC) members. In many cases, it has helped level the playing field for foreign companies that already had strong pollution controls, since domestic companies are increasingly held to the same environmental standards as foreign companies. At the same time, the speed of regulatory change and sudden intensity of enforcement has increased costs and uncertainty throughout the supply chain.

Kaiser and Jeremy spoke with Tim Stratford, the chairman of the American Chamber of Commerce (AmCham) in the People’s Republic of China, and with Craig Allen, the president of the US-China Business Council. The wide-ranging conversation covers everything from technology policies to the structural changes that China is being asked to make to address US complaints over unfair trade practices.

Three major themes dominated the US-China Business Council's 2018 member survey this year. First, US-China trade tensions are affecting American companies. Second, regulatory issues in China continue to be a significant challenge for foreign companies. Third, despite these challenges, China remains an important market for American companies. Read the full report for more details and insights!