On April 7, 2025, WSCRC, in partnership with the National Committee on U.S. China Relations and the World Affairs Council Seattle, hosted a two-part program examining the Trajectory of U.S.-China Relations.
The first part featured a national webcast hosted by the National Committee on U.S. China relations, with speakers Sarah Beran, partner at Macro Advisory Partners, and Stephen Biegun, a seasoned international affairs experts and former Deputy Secretary of State. Their conversation offered valuable insights into the complexities and evolving dynamics of one of the world’s most consequential bilateral relationships.
Seattle was selected as one of the five local partners to be feature during the national webcast audience Q&A segment. Tammy Deet of the Washington State Department of Commerce asked a question central to subnational engagement with China: how can local government balance the need for economic development and the risk of compromising national and economic security. In response, one of the speakers highlighted the importance of partnerships with organizations like the WSCRC.
The NCUSCR recognized and thanked local partners who had been collaborating with them on the China Town Hall for more than a decade, and WSCRC was proud to be among them.
Following the national webcast, a local panel discussion brought together John Brusn, former Vice President of Commercial Sales & Marketing Global Strategic Initiatives and former China President for Boeing; Clair Yang, Assistant Professor at the Jackson School of International Studies at the University of Washington; and Augustine Lo (moderator), Partner at Dorsey & Whitney’s Seattle Office.
The panel provided in-depth discussion on key U.S.-China policy developments and their implications for Washington state. Drawing on Boeing’s experience, Bruns provided practical strategic insights on how businesses can navigate the increasingly complex trade and business landscape. Yang highlighted the current state of China’s economy and its implications for the Chinese government’s domestic and foreign policies. Both speakers emphasized the importance of subnational engagement and people-to-people exchanges, particularly in engaging the next generation.
We would also like to thank our member, Dorsey & Whiteney, for generously hosting the event.