Why Win-Win is a Chinese Concept: Cultural Perspectives on Competition and Cooperation
Josh Keller, Associate Professor of Management at the University of New South Wales, has studied how managers approach cooperation and competition in the US and China, and has discovered that Chinese managers are more likely than American managers to take a "both cooperation and competition" instead of an "either cooperation or competition" approach. Professor Keller will introduce key findings from his research, including explanations for why there are cross-cultural differences and their impact on how individuals manage cooperation and competition within their organization, when working with other firms, or when engaged in diplomatic relations.
While we often think we must choose between whether to cooperate or compete with others, an alternative is to choose both. This understanding could have significant implications for trade negotiations, and the future of the United States’ economic and trade relationship with China.
IP in the Trade War: Strategies for a New Normal
Mark Cohen is a Senior Fellow and Director of the Berkeley Center for Law and Technology Asia IP project, on the role of intellectual property in the trade war. Mark has unparalleled public, private and academic experience in China’s IP environment. As a former US IP Attaché in Beijing and Senior Counsel to the US Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO), Mark brings unique insight on how the US and Chinese governments approach IP negotiations. And having served as general counsel to major multinationals, Mark also offers a valuable corporate perspective for developing strategies to protect IP portfolios in evolving contexts.
As the trade negotiations draw to a close, how will structural issues such as IP be addressed? What may be the low hanging fruit? Will China’s recent IP improvements and legislative reforms have durable impact? And what does an emerging "fortress China" mean for your business?
US-China Trade Tensions: A Strategic Perspective with Dennis Wilder
The US-China Business Council hosted a conversation with Dennis Wilder, managing director of Georgetown University’s Initiative for US-China Dialogue on Global Issues. Mr. Wilder drew on his extensive experience assessing China, including in senior positions at the National Security Council and Central Intelligence Agency, to provide a strategic perspective on the current state of the US-China relationship. Catch the main points:
Export Controls Reform and Implications for China Trade Compliance
The US-China Business Council hosted a roundtable discussion with export controls expert John Larkin. John is the founder of Larkin Trade International (LTI), a Beijing-based trade compliance consulting firm. Prior to founding LTI, John served as the director for export compliance for Veeco Compound Semiconductor, and as Export Control Attaché representing the Commerce Department’s Bureau of Industry and Security at the US Embassy in Beijing. Before his time as a Commercial Service officer, John worked as a special agent for the US Customs Service. He is also a veteran of the United States Marine Corps.
Catch a recap of John's main points below
Bilateral Relations, the View from Shanghai: Coffee with Ken Jarrett
The US-China Business Council hosted a roundtable with Kenneth Jarrett, Senior Advisor at Albright Stonebridge Group. Mr. Jarrett’s distinguished diplomatic career included many postings in China, including as Consul General in Shanghai and as Deputy Consul General in Hong Kong. He also served as Director of Asian Affairs at the National Security Council. Most recently, he spent five years serving as president of the American Chamber of Commerce in Shanghai. Mr. Jarrett shared his perspectives on the bilateral relationship, domestic political and economic developments in China, and the climate for US business in Shanghai today.
Predicting Chinese Policy Change: A New Approach
Because of manipulated economic data and an opaque political system, it is often difficult to predict the Chinese government's policy moves. In a new study, economists Weifeng Zhong of the American Enterprise Institute and Julian Chan of consulting firm Bates White designed a program that may help to better predict China's policy changes using an unusual data source: China's official newspaper, the People's Daily. Their algorithm has not only worked well in "forecasting" past policy changes, but also sheds new light on how China is responding to the US-China trade conflict and to China's growth slowdown.
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.
View an album from the event
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
View an album from the event
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.