Government Affairs Roundtable: Update on the 90-Day Trade Negotiations
The US-China Business Council (USCBC) held a government affairs roundtable on the status of the 90-day trade negotiations on Monday, February 25. Bill Reinsch, Senior Adviser and Scholl Chair in International Business at the Center for Strategic and International Studies, and Xuan Yan, Partner at Squire Patton Boggs, discussed the expected outcomes both countries are likely to announce at the end of the 90-day period on March 1. Will both countries announce a deal, extend the talks, or the US tariffs be raised? Reinsch and Xuan offered their insights into the Trump administration’s thinking on trade negotiations with China
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
Shanghai 2019 USCBC China Forecast
The US-China Business Council (USCBC) hosted its first Shanghai USCBC Forecast program and reception on January 24, 2019. This half day event featured a comprehensive outlook for the China business and policy environment in the year ahead, as well as developments in US-China ongoing trade negotiations. The program provided an opportunity for companies to learn more about what may be ahead with ongoing US-China tensions and the perspective is from the US side from USCBC Washington, DC leadership. The program also provided a detailed outlook on China’s economy in 2019 and insights from executives about how they are adjusting business strategies for the upcoming year.
The Shanghai USCBC Forecast ended with a reception for members to engage with USCBC's Senior Vice President Erin Ennis and other USCBC member company executives.
Update on US-China Negotiations and the Washington Perspective
Erin Ennis, Senior Vice President, US-China Business Council, will share an update on the US-China 90-day negotiations, trade policy implications of a Democrat-controlled House of Representatives, and recent development of export control legislation.
China Perspective on US-China Relations
Dr. Wu Xinbo, Director, Center for American Studies, Dean of the Institute of International Studies, Fudan University
China’s Economy in 2019
Dr. Shaun Roache, Chief Economist, APAC, S&P Global will provide a detailed overview of what to expect of China’s economy in 2019 to help China executives better plan their business.
US-China Relations and China Development
Dr. Huang Renwei, Executive Vice Dean of Fudan Institute of Belt and Road & Global Governance, Former Vice President of the Shanghai Academy of Social Sciences
Managing Risk in Heightened Tensions
Regional leadership from USCBC member companies will share best practices for how they are managing risk during heightened tensions. Discussion will range from managing supply chain to crisis communication planning.
Rebekah Lemm, General Manager Asia Pacific, Intralox
Reggie Lai, Vice President, General Manager, China, TE Connectivity
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.
Beijing 2019 USCBC China Forecast
The US-China Business Council held its first Beijing USCBC Forecast program on January 23, 2019. This half day event featured a comprehensive outlook for the China business and policy environment in the year ahead, as well as developments in US-China ongoing trade negotiations. The program provided an opportunity for companies to learn more about what may be ahead with ongoing US-China tensions and the perspective is from the US side from USCBC Washington, DC leadership.
Update on US-China Negotiations and the Washington Perspective
Erin Ennis, Senior Vice President, US-China Business Council, will share an update on the US-China 90-day negotiations, trade policy implications of a Democrat-controlled House of Representatives, and recent development of export control legislation.
China’s Economy in 2019
Fan Gang, Vice President, China Society of Economic Reform, will discuss the current economic picture and the impact of President Trump’s trade policy on economic growth in 2019. He will also interpret outcome from the recently concluded Central Economic Work Conference, as well as a variety of challenges that the government is facing.
China’s Foreign Policy and Bilateral Relations
Professor Jia Qingguo, International Relations, Peking University, will offer perspectives on China’s foreign policy changes amidst the world multilateral dynamics, and how that affects future trajectory of US-China relations in 2019.
Business Vision, Response to Trade War, and Outlook for China Market
Sean Keohane, President and CEO, Cabot Corporation, will offerviews on China market environment development, business reaction to the US-China trade conflict, and future recommendations through the lens of a global business leader.
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.