Event Details

This event is for members only and off the records.


AmCham China is hosting an open town hall meeting on the recent development of US-China trade tensions to discuss the implication of the tariffs and AmCham's response and position on the trade frictions.


US-China trade tensions escalated sharply over the weekend. On June 15th, Trump put forward a statement imposing a 25% tariff on $50 billion of Chinese exports to encourage China to refrain from unfair practices that put US and foreign business at a permanent disadvantage. As warned, China responded by vowing to raise tariffs on $50 billion worth of US exports, to which Trump promised to retaliate by proposing additional tariffs.


AmCham's stance on the recent development is clear and consistent: there are no winners in trade frictions, and all parties suffer. The core issue remains reciprocal treatment, in which China would open its trade market as widely as America's markets are open to China. We recommend resolving the stalemate through result-oriented discussion with fairness and reciprocal treatment.


This event is an internal discussion open to all AmCham members, and will be led by Lester Ross, Chair of AmCham Policy Committee and Zhou Bing, Chair of Chinese Government Affairs Committee (CGAC). William Zarit, Chairman of AmCham China will also be attending the event.

Agenda

9:00 AM - 9:30 AM
Registration
9:30 AM - 9:40 AM
Opening Remarks
9:40 AM - 10:45 AM
Discussion
10:45 AM - 11:15 AM
Conclusion

Speakers

  • William Zarit (Chairman at AmCham China)

    William Zarit

    Chairman at AmCham China

    The Honorable William Zarit advises U.S. multinationals working in the Chinese commercial market and helps Chinese companies navigate the U.S. investment environment. A Senior Counselor with The Cohen Group, he also serves as Chairman of the Board for the American Chamber of Commerce in China.

    Until May 2014 Mr. Zarit was Minister for Commercial Affairs at the U.S. Embassy in Beijing, in charge of the U.S. Department of Commerce’s trade promotion and trade policy activities in its operations in Beijing, Chengdu, Guangzhou, Shanghai, and Shenyang. He retired with the diplomatic rank of Career Minister.

    Prior to his posting to Beijing, Mr. Zarit was Deputy Assistant Secretary, International Operations, for the U.S. Commercial Service, overseeing Commercial Sections in U.S. Embassies and Consulates worldwide. The U.S. Commercial Service is the Federal Government’s front line trade agency, promoting both U.S. exports and foreign investment into the U.S., and protecting U.S. commercial interests overseas. Prior to that Mr. Zarit served as the U.S. Commercial Service’s Regional Director for East Asia/Pacific. He also served as Senior Commercial Officer at the U.S. Embassy in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, Deputy Senior Commercial Officer at the U.S. Embassy in Beijing, and Deputy Senior Commercial Officer at the American Institute in Taiwan.

    Before joining the U.S. Commercial Service Mr. Zarit was Economic and Commercial Program Officer for the New York-based National Committee on U.S.-China Relations. Prior to that he served as Marketing Manager/China for Pacific Bell’s international operations, preceded by his work as Project Manager for the first IBM PC dealer in China, China Business Associates. Mr. Zarit also served as Mandarin Chinese Interpreter for the U.S. State Department Language Services.

    He earned an M.B.A. with Honors from the University of California, Berkeley, and a B.A. with Honors in Political Science from Miami University, Oxford, Ohio.

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  • Bing Zhou (Vice President of Government Affairs at Dell)

    Bing Zhou

    Vice President of Government Affairs at Dell

    Bing Zhou serves as the Vice President of Dell Greater China. As the leader of Greater China Government affairs team, he is responsible for Dell’s communication and cooperation with governments in Greater China region. Currently he serves as the Chairman of AmCham China Government Affairs Committee.

    Prior to Dell, Bing served at senior management positions of Government affairs at GE, Novartis and other MNCs. Bing was the Deputy Director of Bo’ao Forum for Asia (BFA) and is an expert on Asian Economic Integration. Bing has also served at MOFCOM for a long period of time.

    Bing earned his master degree at University of International Business and Economics and bachelor degree at Wuhan University.

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  • Lester Ross (Partner at WilmerHale)

    Lester Ross

    Partner at WilmerHale

    As Chair of AmCham China Policy Committee, Les Ross is a longstanding leader of the American business and legal communities in China and in frequent contact with government officials and other stakeholders.

    Mr. Ross concentrates his practice on mergers and acquisitions and regulatory matters and has experience in a broad range of industries. He has represented both foreign and local companies and has particular experience advising foreign companies on competition law and regulatory compliance in China.

    Mr. Ross represents foreign companies in their strategic expansion in China through direct investments and mergers and acquisitions in industries ranging alphabetically from agriculture to water services. He also has extensive experience representing foreign banks and corporations, including Chinese entities, in their strategic expansion in the United States, particularly focusing on M&A and regulatory clearances and compliance. He has also represented clients in trade, dispute resolution and regulatory matters in China.

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Tickets

Cardholding Member
Member Price Complimentary
Employee of Member Companies
Standard Price Complimentary