Matthew Margulies

Matthew Margulies is senior vice president of China operations for the US-China Business Council. In this role in Beijing, he oversees USCBC’s government affairs and advocacy strategy in China and provides policy analysis oversight. Most recently, he worked as director of the US Chamber of Commerce’s China Center, where he was responsible for promoting and executing US Chamber advocacy and programs relating to US trade and investment policy. Prior to that he was China Practice Lead and Senior China Analyst for Crumpton Group LLC, a boutique strategic analysis and political risk consulting firm, as well as in roles with USCBC based in Washington, DC, and with the Chinese state-owned enterprise China Unicom Group.

Matt relishes his return to USCBC as head of China operations in part because of this consequential moment in history. “USCBC is one of few organizations where you can make real contributions that shape the US-China relationship. We engage with a range of stakeholders across the US and Chinese governments and private sectors, so those contributions can be at the micro level—like helping a company understand investment incentives from a local government—or at the macro level—like advocating for negotiating objectives in bilateral trade deals.”

An apparently precocious youth who preferred TV magazine format news shows to cartoons, Matt was drawn to China early. “I recall a 2004 segment on 60 Minutes discussing the importance of China to a major retailer’s supply chain and consumer sales. That was the first time I remember China registering on my radar as an important market and hub for businesses. I followed that up with study of the language both in the US and China, which I found challenging but rewarding. The more I worked on and engaged with China the more opportunities I found. It only made sense to continue developing a career centered around China’s economic rise.”

It takes nerves made of a strong substance to do US-China relations these days, but Matt is more than up to the task and ready for the challenge: “I love working with a great team of experts that, despite our very different backgrounds, are all similarly and personally interested in supporting the US-China commercial relationship, and helping American companies succeed in China.

Matt has a young son who made the trip to Beijing and spent the requisite time in quarantine. “My only hobby these days is taking care of my one-year old. I’m really happy he has the opportunity to spend his early years in China and enjoy a bit of a global upbringing. Beijing can be a very kid-friendly city, and I’m really looking forward to these next few years.”

And so are Matt’s USCBC colleagues and members.

You'll be able to hear more from Matt on the China Business Minute podcast and from his upcoming appearances on the members-only China Market Intelligence Live.