While US-China trade tensions are front of mind for many executives in Beijing, attendees of the US-China Business Council’s (USCBC) Beijing China Operations Conference last week indicated that other operational issues continue in the background. Senior executives from a broad range of industries gathered June 21 in Beijing to discuss key operational issues: tax reform, SOE partnerships, China’s outbound development, and US-China relations.

The United States and China have both fired warning shots on the growing field of bilateral trade disputes, though the most significant battle is likely still weeks away. While both sides have announced proposed tariffs on $50 billion in imports in relation to the USTR’s investigation into China’s intellectual property and technology transfer policies, neither will be implemented immediately.