Navigating the World of the US-China Trade War and Technology Distrust, a conversation with James McGregor
The US-China Business Council hosted a roundtable with APCO’s Greater China Chairman, James McGregor. The US and Chinese business worlds have become very deeply intertwined in the past few decades, from business education to manufacturing supply chains, venture capital investing, scientific research, and technology innovation. In many ways this has been good for both countries, but it also has created winners and losers. Today we face a new world in which political and economic differences between our two countries have come to the fore, with China seen by some as slipping back into top-down Market Leninism, and the US rejecting globalization and established trade protocols. Mr. McGregor will lead a discussion aimed at identifying ways businesses can navigate these political waters.
This event was for USCBC member companies and invited guests only.
Forecast 2019
US-China Business Council's (USCBC) premier conference on China's business and political environment in the year ahead was a fantastic resource of insights into the year ahead. This annual event featured top China policy experts, strategic analysis, and business professionals discussing key intelligence, top challenges, and opportunities coming up for China operations and bilateral relations.
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Experts in their fields addressed:
Cybersecurity and Commercial Best Practices –William Evanina, National Counterintelligence and Security Center in the Office of the Director of National Intelligence
China’s 2019 Economic Forecast – Dr. Robert Dohner, Nonresident Senior Fellow, Atlantic Council
Congressional Perspectives on US-China Trade – Katherine Tai, Chief Trade Counsel, US House of Representatives, and Nasim Fussell, Chief International Trade Counsel, US Senate
US-China Relations in 2019 – Kenneth G. Lieberthal, Senior Fellow Emeritus, Brookings Institution
Operational Issues – Chris Adams, Senior Advisor, Covington & Burling LLP; Samm Sacks, Cybersecurity Policy and China Digital Economy Fellow, New America; and Peter Lichtebaum, Partner, Covington & Burling LLP
The Year Ahead for US Companies in China: A Sinica Interview with Craig Allen and Tim Stratford – in conversation with Kaiser Kuo and Jeremy Goldkorn, Sinica Podcast
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Environmental Policy and Enforcement Trends in China and the Impact on Business
Since China declared “war on pollution” in 2014, environmental regulations and enforcement have undergone rapid changes, which have created both challenges and opportunities for foreign companies. On January 24, USCBC held a discussion on the impact of China’s environmental policy and enforcement trends on business with Joanna Lewis, associate professor at Georgetown University, Tiaya Smith, director of the Climate Leadership Council’s China program; and Luo Weiwei, of counsel at Beveridge & Diamond. They shared their expertise and insights on how increased environmental enforcement in China has impacted companies, best practices for compliance, and the implications of new policies on industry.
WTO Reform Proposals
In 2018, World Trade Organization (WTO) members initiated several efforts to reform the 23-year old institution to address concerns that have arisen about key functions such as dispute settlement, as well as challenges that have been identified since China joined the organization in 2001. Separate efforts by the European Union, Canada, and a trilateral initiative by Japan, the EU and the United States all were underway as of the end of the year. On January 15, USCBC hosted a discussion about these efforts and what may be on the horizon in 2019. Our speakers were:
- Jordan Khan, Second Secretary for Trade Policy at the Embassy of Canada, who provided information on the discussions and outcomes of the meeting convened in Ottawa last fall
- Tomas Baert, Head of Trade and Agriculture for the European Delegation, who discussed the trilateral discussions and the EU’s other WTO reform proposals
This event is for USCBC member companies and invited guests only. Registration is required.
USPTO Briefing on China’s Intellectual Property Rights System
The US-China Business Council hosted a discussion with the US Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) on China’s intellectual property rights (IPR) environment on Thursday, January 10. Elaine Wu, Senior Counsel for China, Office of Policy and International Affairs, USPTO, and several attorney advisors from the USPTO China Team, shared their extensive knowledge and insights on a range of critical China IP issues that will benefit US rights holders. They addressed questions such as: What is the future of IPR in China? What do US businesses need to know about protecting and enforcing patents, copyrights, trademarks and trade secrets in China? What is the USPTO doing to improve IPR protection and enforcement in China? And what resources are available for US companies? With IPR a core theme in on-going bilateral tensions, it is critical for companies to understand factors shaping the future of China’s IPR system and ways to protect their interests going forward.
Update on US Export Controls Reforms
On January 8, the US-China Business Council (USCBC) hosted a discussion on the proposed changes to add “emerging and foundational technologies” to Commerce’s export controls list. Kevin Wolf and Christian Davis, Partners at Akin Gump, will share their expertise on the recent efforts to reform US export controls and their advice to companies on how to best provide input on possible controls on technologies important to US national security. Industry input will be critical to Commerce’s process of identifying new technologies to control
Post-G20 Debriefing with Clete Willems
On December 13, Clete Willems, Acting Special Assistant to the President for International Trade, Investment and Development at the National Security Council, debriefed us about the recent meeting between Presidents Trump and Xi after the G20 in Buenos Aires.
Recent Chinese Political Developments and Implications for Business
The US-China Business Council (USCBC) hosted a panel discussion on the implications of significant upcoming domestic and multilateral events for Chinese policy, US-China relations, and China’s economic reforms. Speakers included Daniel Wright, president and CEO of the GreenPoint Group, and Jude Blanchette, senior advisor and China practice lead at the Crumpton Group.
The confluence of important high-level political meetings impacting China’s economic policy direction towards the end of this year include a potential plenary session of the CCP Central Committee and China’s annual Central Economic Work Conference which could lay out a vision for China’s economic policy going forward, while a meeting between Trump and Xi on the sidelines of the G20 in Buenos Aires could alleviate tariff pressure or make it far worse. At the same time, as the dust settles from the massive government restructuring efforts launched in March, the effects on business, both positive and negative, are becoming clearer. Daniel Wright and Jude Blanchette will address these and other issues in their discussion of Chinese political environment and implications for business.
USCBC’s 45th Anniversary Gala
On behalf of all of us at the US-China Business Council, we would like to thank our event sponsors and member companies for their generous support of USCBC’s 45th Anniversary Gala and Tribute to President George H.W. Bush held on December 5, 2018 at the Ritz-Carlton Washington, DC.
USCBC Chair Evan Greenberg and President Craig Allen served as senior hosts. Nearly 450 leaders from the business, government, diplomatic, and think tank communities were in attendance. China’s top envoy to Washington, DC, His Excellency Cui Tiankai, was among the distinguished guests.
Ambassador Carla A. Hills, this year’s USCBC honoree, received a standing ovation from Gala attendees in recognition of her enduring contributions to bilateral and multilateral trade and investment agreements which have facilitated and expanded regional and global trade for decades. USCBC Chair Greenberg recognized Ambassador Hills as one of the country's leading foreign policy experts for her service in two presidential cabinets, first as Secretary of the Department of Housing and Urban Development for President Gerald R. Ford and then as the United States Trade Representative for President George H. W. Bush. In her brief remarks, Ambassador Hills reminded us of the late President Bush’s dream that the United States and China will “continue working together toward a full partnership and friendship that will bring peace and prosperity to people everywhere,” and emphasized the need for positive engagement in the bilateral relationship now more than ever.
In lieu of a physical gift, USCBC made a monetary donation on behalf of Ambassador Hills to the US-Asia Institute’s Szymanski Rule of Law Exchange Program. Funds will be used to support the immersion program for top Chinese and American law students and future leaders in each other’s legal systems.
USCBC President Allen highlighted the important role the US-China Business Council plays in advocating for American business in China. While these may be turbulent times, we are dedicated and committed to bilateral engagement, mutual respect, compromise, and peaceful resolution of differences; “the trade and investment relationship between our two countries has always been the foundation upon which the bilateral relationship rests.”
During Ambassador Cui’s remarks on outcomes of the G-20 meeting and perspectives for future US-China relations, he stated: “Let us work together to build an even stronger foundation for our future relations…to borrow a favorite phrase of the late President Bush, our relations will have ‘ceiling and visibility unlimited.’”
Photos from the event are forthcoming on the official photographer’s website: bit.ly/USCBC18. High definition electronic files or prints may be ordered directly from this site. If you plan to use the images for commercial purposes, please contact Kaveh Sardari directly ([email protected]) to discuss the copyright agreement.
USCBC looks forward to continuing to support our members and promote stronger US-China commercial relations in 2019. Please know that our staff in Washington, DC, Beijing, and Shanghai are ready to assist you with your China-related needs.
Special thank you to our Gala 2018 corporate sponsors that pledged their support:
Leadership:
Chubb, Walmart, Inc., Xcoal Energy & Resources
AccuWeather, Archer Daniels Midland Company, Barbara Franklin Enterprises, The Boeing Company,
USCBC Government Affairs Roundtable
The midterm elections saw divisions on trade and tariffs among candidates competing for seats in the House and Senate, with tariffs becoming a highly contentious issue in some races. The Trump-Xi meeting on December 1 on the sidelines of the G20 summit provided an opportunity to resolve some of the outstanding trade issues between the two countries.
On December 3, USCBC Senior Vice President Erin Ennis led an engaging discussion with members on the implications of both happenings.