On April 24, 2025, WSCRC, in partnership with the National Committee on U.S. China Relations, the World Affairs Council Seattle and the University of Washington’s East Asia Center and China Studies Program, hosted a two-part program examining the Trump administration’s China policy 100 days in.

The first part featured a national webcast hosted by the National Committee on U.S. China relations, with speakers Ryan Hass, Director of John L. Thorton China Center at the Brookings Institution, Matthew Turpin, Visiting Fellow at the Hoover Institution, and Lingling Wei, Chief China Correspondent at The Wall Street Journal.

Following the national webcast, a local panel discussion brought together Spencer Cohen, Principal and Founder of High Peak Strategy; John VerWey, advisor in the Pacific Northwest National Laboratory’s (PNNL) Global Security, Technology and Policy group; and Dori Jones Yang (moderator), award-winning author, journalist, and speaker.

The panel provided in-depth discussion on key U.S.-China policy developments and their implications for Washington state, highlighting both shifts from the prior administration and areas of continuity. Cohen discussed the potential lasting impacts might the current trade war have on U.S.-China relations and global supply chain, particularly for Washington state businesses, ports, and higher education. VerWey examined the intersection of technology and national security, with a focus on technology protection efforts such as export controls, investment screening, research security, and supply chain security. The discussion concluded with consideration of alternative and more effective strategies for addressing many of the issues in the current U.S.-China economic relationship.

On January 22, 2025, WSCRC co-hosted a panel discussion with the Rainier Club and the University of Washington’s China Study Program and East Asia Center titled Divided Politics, Unified Challenges? U.S.-China Relations Post-Election. Held two days after the Presidential inauguration, this event offered a timely examination of the future of U.S.-China relations, considering shifts in Congress and other key policymaking positions.

The panel featured David Bachman, Professor and Associate Director at the Jackson School of International Studies at the University of Washington; Nelson Dong is an Of Counsel in the Seattle office of the Dorsey & Whitney law firm and former partner and co-heads of its National Security Law Group; Tong Zhu, Chief Commercial & Strategy Officer at the Northwest Seaport Alliance; and Kristi Heim, Founder and CEO of Lumenation.

Bachman shared his perspectives on how potential policies and actions of the new administration could shape U.S.-China relations, as well as possible response from China. Dong examined the possible evolution of U.S. export control policies under a second Trump Administration, the industries most likely to be affected, and potential counter measures from the Chinese government. Zhu reviewed the Washington China trade relationship, underscoring its importance to Washington state’s economic growth. China is Washington state’s 2nd largest trading partner, and the 3rd largest export market for Washington agricultural products, and exports to China over 27,000 jobs in the state (2022). Panelists also discussed how the ongoing U.S. China trade war has affected Washington state’s economy and workforce, as well as the broader impacts on international higher education, including declining Chinese student enrollment at the University of Washington.