WSCRC

Washington State China Relations Council

Representative Rick Larsen Updates China White Paper

Representative Rick Larsen (WA-02), who addressed WSCRC audiences on three occasions in 2021, recently updated his China White Paper. Larsen’s recent white paper builds on his December 2019 edition, including new priorities and recommendations while retaining the framework of the original White Paper. In his paper Larsen calls upon Congress and the Biden administration to think more broadly about its ‘China agenda.’ Instead of thinking defensively, the U.S. needs to have a proactive agenda that increases U.S. competitiveness,” said Larsen, co-founder and co-chair of the U.S.-China Working Group (USCWG).

Read a copy of the newly updated White Paper here.

2021 Year In Review And Holiday Greetings

Season’s Greetings and Warm Wishes from

the Washington State China Relations Council & the Washington State China Relations Fund
&
2021 Year in Review

 

Dear WSCRC Members and Friends,

It’s that time of year when we want to thank you for your support, to wish you and your family a happy, safe, and peaceful holiday season and all the best for 2022.

We’d also like to present you this year in review which summarizes many of our 2021 activities. We are grateful to all of you who joined with us this year in our webinars and various events and we look forward to your continued support in 2022.

PROGRAMS AND EVENTS

We continued to provide high quality webinars and conferences covering topics of importance to the U.S.-China relationship. Below we briefly highlight many of our events and provide links to the recordings or memos recapping these. You may also access videos of many of our events on  our YouTube Channel here.
2021 Virtual Annual Gala
On February 2, the Council held its annual gala, virtually, for over 200 participants. The highlight of the evening was a conversation between former Ambassador to China Gary Locke and the former Prime Minister of Australia, Kevin Rudd. These two experts expressed their ideas about how the U.S. and China can cooperate as well as compete in the future. Also speaking at the event was Congressman Rick Larsen (D WA 02), who shared his ideas about steps the U.S. must take to compete and what the U.S. must do to manage its increasingly fraught relationship with China.

Keeping with a Gala tradition, the Council awarded its 2021 Sidney Rittenberg Award for leadership in the advancement of Washington-China relations to former Council Chairman and long-time board member Gregg Rodgers.

       
Cruising the South China Sea –                         Asymmetric Competition: A Strategy for
Stormy Weather Ahead?                                      China & Technology: A Conversation with Gary Rieschel
Watch the webinar recording here                              Read the full report here

       
The Importance of International Students    Analyzing Chinese Investment in
in Post-Secondary Education System               the Real Estate Sector
Watch the webinar recording here                                Watch the webinar recording here

           
Current Challenges and Opportunities for      Coffee Chat with the Economic Alliance Snohomish County:
U.S. Companies in China: A Report by the       Rebuilding Relationships with China
Leaders of the AmCham Shanghai                      Watch the webinar recording here. 

                    
Book Talk                                     Book Talk  “Challenging China”   Dragon Boat Festival Networking Event
“Rumors from Shanghai”      Watch the webinar recording here         

           
A conversation with Representative                  Analyzing China’s Strategic Ambitions
Rick Larsen on U.S.-China Relations                 Watch the webinar recording here
Watch the webinar recording here

Anti-Asian Violence and Hate Crimes Series
       
Watch the first webinar (community voices) recording
Watch the second webinar (government perspectives) recording here

         
Deciphering Xi Jinping’s Vision and                  Book Talk “The World Turned Upside Down”
What It Means for the Tech Sector                       
Watch the webinar recording here

         
U.S.-China Relations: Trends and                A conversation with Congresswoman Suzan
Implications for U.S. Business                       DelBene on U.S.-China Relations

         
The Impact of the Evergrande Crisis             China Town Hall 2021
on China’s Economy                                             Watch the webinar recording here

       
Book Talk | Middle Class Shanghai:                 Unpacking Global Supply Chain Disruptions
Reshaping U.S.-China Engagement                  Watch the webinar recording here
Watch the webinar recording here   

The New China Business Landscape for American Companies

This virtual conference was co-hosted by the WSCRC and AmCham Shanghai. Ambassador Stapleton Roy provided a very insightful keynote speech. He stated that even though there are many “dark clouds” on the horizon for U.S.-China relations, the notion of a “new cold war” is misleading and inappropriate. He listed three key factors hampering the U.S’s China policy, including no defined U.S. economic strategy for Asia, Taiwan, and a hostility in the U.S. against globalization.

Representative Rick Larsen (D WA 02) made recorded remarks, stating the importance of a healthy relationship for Washington State and the U.S. with China, and what the Congress should do to improve the relationship.

Three panels comprised of leaders of the U.S. business community in China and leading China experts discussed three key issues of the U.S.-China relationship, including the current state and the future of U.S.-China relations, the business environment for U.S. companies in China, and what are the implications of a “de-coupled” tech landscape.

WSCRC Government Affairs Committee Projects

WSCRC and Select Washington Trade Associations Outline Ideas for China Policies

The Washington State China Relations Council and its partners recently prepared a document for federal, state and local officials, outlining policies that these organizations endorse with the intent to improve the competitiveness of Washington businesses in their dealings with China. The WSCRC would like to thank our partner organizations, CleanTech Alliance, the Northwest Horticultural Council, Visit Seattle, and the Washington Technology Industry Association, for providing their valuable inputs. Full report can be viewed here.

WSCRC Produces its First China Quarterly Report

The intent of this communique is to provide timely and important information about U.S.-China relations, key developments of interest and relevance in China, and an update on the progress of local entities in their interactions with China. The Council – drawing upon its 42-year history, knowledge, and resources – is well positioned to track, analyze, and report on the Pacific Northwest’s important economic, cultural, and educational relationship with China. We hope this report, coupled with other works of the Council, provide key resources for industry leaders, government officials and their staff. Read the full report here. 

 

 

WSCRC in the Media & Member Highlights

On August 10, Nelson Dong, a board member and former Chairman of the WSCRC was selected by the Puget Sound Business Journal as one of their eight “Director of the Year” for 2021. The board members are recognized for their outstanding contributions to help their companies/organizations navigate through challenging times. Read the PBSJ’s full story “Nelson Dong: ‘Now, more than ever, U.S. businesses need to remain active in their various trade associations“.

On April 16, the WSCRC published an Op-ed in the Seattle Times to recommend five core themes in terms of engaging and competing with China to boost Washington’s economic recovery.

On January 15, the WSCRC member Spencer Cohen co-penned an editorial in the South China Morning Post. Titled New alliances, not tariffs, are key to US trade strategy on China, the op-ed calls for the U.S. to take a multi-lateral approach to solving trade problems with China.

The U.S. China Business Council (USCBC), in coordination with the WSCRC, has interviewed a number of WSCRC member companies to understand the importance of the China market to these firms, as part of its “50 States, 50 Stories” initiative. Four WSCRC members were interviewed and featured in the series.

  • Brown and Haley – “In Pursuit of a Billion Sweet Tooths“.  Tacoma-based Brown and Haley is the legendary candy maker who created “Almond Roca”. In the article, the company’s CEO John Melin explains how they developed their business in China, how the company has adapted its product line to meet the needs of Chinese consumers. and how they have responded to impacts from the trade war and the pandemic.
  • GX Architecture & Design – “Adding an American Touch to China’s Tech Headquarters“. Bob Ormond, Senior Vice President and COO of the company advised the readers to take the long(er) view when working with the Chinese based on his and his company’s experience working throughout Asia. Mr. Ormond also praised the role of state level U.S.-China trade groups like the WSCRC which helps companies like his with business transactions and policy and strategy advice.

Support Our Work

We thank you for your continued support of our work and mission. Such support is vitally important to the future of U.S.-China business and cultural relations. You can support us by becoming a WSCRC member or making a tax-deductible contribution to the WSCRF’s educational programs.

Book Talk | Middle Class Shanghai: Reshaping U.S.-China Engagement

Cheng Li’s Middle-Class Shanghai argues that American policymakers must not lose sight of the expansive dynamism and diversity in present-day China. The caricature of the PRC as a monolithic Communist apparatus set on exporting its ideology and development model is simplistic and misguided. Drawing on empirical research in the realms of higher education, avant-garde art, architecture, and law, this unique study highlights the strong, constructive impact of bilateral exchanges.

Watch the book talk recordings here.

In Remembrance of Stan Barer

Dear WSCRC Members and Friends,

It is with great sadness that the Washington State China Relations Council informs you of the passing of Stan Barer, one of the founding members of the Council who was instrumental in improving the U.S.-China relationship. Stan passed away peacefully on the eve of Dec. 13 after courageously battling pancreatic cancer for more than a decade.

Stan was born in Walla Walla, Washington, where his father ran a scrap metal business. He received both his Bachelor’s and Juris Doctor degrees from the University of Washington. He served as legal counsel to the U.S. Senate Committee on Interstate and Foreign Commerce in 1963, 1964, and 1967, Assistant U.S. Attorney in Seattle from 1965 to 1967, and then Chief of Staff to Washington State U.S. Senator Warren Magnuson between 1969 and 1974.

After leaving public service, he became a name partner in the law firm Garvey Schubert & Barer in 1974 and even after his retirement he continued to serve as the firm’s Counsel. In 1979, Stan Barer developed legal strategy and negotiated the resumption of trade between the U.S. and China after a 30-year hiatus, leading to the arrival of COSCO’s M.V. Liu Lin Hai at the Port of Seattle on April 18, 1979. It was in that year that Stan, along with four other civic and business leaders, founded the Washington State China Relations Council. At an interview to celebrate the 40th anniversary of the arrival of M.V. Liu Lin Hai, Stan said that “China has been an important part of my life, and that has been a joy.” To honor his extraordinary contributions to U.S.-China relations over the decades, the Council presented him the Lifetime Achievement Award in 2016.

Stan co-founded Saltchuk, a diversified transportation and distribution company, in 1982 and served as Chairman until 1994. He became Chairman Emeritus in 2001.

The Council is honored to have been graced by Stan’s legacy, wisdom, guidance, and service over the years. Our hearts and thoughts are with Stan’s family and loved ones. Stan’s memorable and extraordinary life and accomplishments are described in this obituary on Seattle Times.

Washington Entrepreneur Returns to China to Craft Motorcycle Helmets

The U.S. China Business Council (USCBC), in coordination with the WSCRC, has interviewed a number of WSCRC member companies to understand the importance of the China market to these firms, as part of its “50 States, 50 Stories” initiative. The fifth of the Washington State story is with WSCRC member, Jeanne DeMund, who owns a business that combined business manufacturing skills and her marketing savvy.

Read the full article here.

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