By LINDA DENG in Seattle | China Daily Global

Published on line on China Daily July 26, 2019: http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/a/201907/26/WS5d39d5caa310d830564010ab.html 

Norwell Coquillard has taken the reins at the crucial Washington State China Relations Council (WSCRC) at a pivotal time in the bilateral relationship.

“The US-China relationship is highly contentious and volatile,” he told China Daily. “At times of increased tension between our two countries, it is more important than ever that our organization advance a thoughtful, constructive agenda and support our member companies as they look to navigate this complex landscape.”

Washington is the most trade-driven state in the country, with more than $16 billion in goods exported to China by Evergreen State companies in 2018 alone.

One of those vital Washington state products that Coquillard may have to work on is cherries.

Across China’s metropolises, a burgeoning middle class’ appetite for fresh US cherries has become a casualty of the trade conflict with the US. A business that grew to nearly $200 million in 2017 from nothing in 2000 has now shrunk to little more than a tenth of its volume peak, US customs data show.

With import tariffs for American cherries at 50 percent, Beijing in turn has relaxed regulations on imports from Central Asia — a region central to China-proposed Belt and Road Initiative.

Victor Wang, the China representative of US Northwest Cherry Growers, based in Yakima, Washington, said it took almost two decades of marketing and lobbying to help make US cherries some of the most coveted fruits in China — at one point his suppliers were exporting more to China than to Canada just across the border. But that changed in 2018, when two rounds of Chinese tariff increases, in retaliation for US tariffs, added 40 percentage points to import costs.

Coquillard takes over at WSCRC — the US’ oldest state-level organization focused on strengthening relations with China — as it marks its 40th anniversary. Fortuitously perhaps, it also is the 40th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between the US and China.

The council has more than 100 members, including local companies, financial institutions, ports, municipal governments, institutions of higher education and cultural organizations.

Coquillard, who grew up in the American Midwest, spent more than three decades living in Asia. In 1998, he went to Shanghai to serve as chairman and president of Cargill Investment (China) Ltd, the China operating company for Cargill, the largest privately held company in the US. During his tenure, the company’s operations in China expanded rapidly, from 300 employees to more than 5,000.

“Vibrant, very stimulating, growing very rapidly and quite an exciting place to be,” was how Coquillard described China, where he had worked for two decades.

Before he moved to Seattle in late 2016, he had served as the chairman and president of Enactus China, the China branch of the US-based nonprofit. Coquillard also is a member of the International Advisory Board of APCO Worldwide, the global communications firm.

Coquillard said he took the post a month ago because he is a firm believer that the economies of the two countries are highly interconnected.

“I hope at this very difficult time we can bring to the council a deep understanding of the bilateral trade, business and cultural relationship, to get the good, neutral relationship back on track so both the United States and China can prosper from it,” Coquillard said.

The WSCRC recently said it would leverage its extensive network and legacy of furthering engagement with China to fortify the state’s strategic position in the bilateral dialogue.

The council has hosted many of China’s most senior officials and prominent business leaders, including all of China’s top leaders from Deng Xiaoping to President Xi Jinping.

Seattle is the only US city besides Washington DC to host all four Chinese leaders.

The council also helped organize the 2014 Bo’ao Forum in Seattle, the first time the event was held on American soil.

Now Coquillard and the council are planning a series of programs to celebrate the organization’s legacy, culminating in an anniversary banquet on Oct 24 in Seattle.

The event will honor the 40th anniversary of the M.V. Liu Lin Hai’s arrival at the Port of Seattle in 1979, the first Chinese ship to make a port call in North America following a 30-year gap in the bilateral trade relationship.

Later that year, the Port of Seattle signed a sister port agreement with the Port of Shanghai, the first such agreement between a Chinese and American port.

He is excited for a return trip to China in November.

“The delegation is mainly Washington state businesspeople, and we probably will attend the China International Import Expo 2019,” Coquillard said.

Reuters contributed to this story.

The Washington State China Relations Council supports the expansion and strengthening of trade links between the U.S. and China. The Council’s members, comprising over 100 companies, civic organizations and individuals in Washington state, believe that increased trade, economic cooperation and business activity will lead to greater prosperity in both countries and provide a platform to enhance mutual understanding between the two nations.

The Council welcomes the resumption of trade talks between the U.S. and China. WSCRC’s members encourage the negotiators to reduce barriers to trade and strengthen provisions that enable corporations to compete in a fair and transparent manner. Our members desire a stable and open commercial relationship with China.

The WSCRC notes that both the U.S. and China have contributed to today’s negative trading environment. The imposition of tariffs by the U.S. has added unforeseen burdens on companies and consumers in both countries. Chinese policies that block market access for foreign companies and insufficiently protect intellectual property have been major contributing factors to today’s trade standoff. In light of recent setbacks in trade negotiations, the Council strongly urges negotiators on both sides to find common ground quickly, to resume normal trading relations and prevent a slowdown in global economic growth.

For Immediate Release

Media Contact:
Man Wang, WSCRC
manw@wscrc.org
206-389-7204

 

WASHINGTON STATE CHINA RELATIONS COUNCIL NAMES NEW EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, STRENGTHENS POSITION AT CRITICAL TIME

Nation’s oldest state-level China organization advocates for constructive relations amid tension

JUNE 27, 2019 – SEATTLE – The Washington State China Relations Council (WSCRC) is pleased to announce the appointment of J. Norwell Coquillard as the organization’s new executive director. Mr. Coquillard has two decades’ experience living and working in China and brings to the Council a deep understanding of the bilateral trade, business and cultural relationship, and how best to effectively advance constructive ties between Washington state and China.

This year marks the fortieth anniversary for the WSCRC, the nation’s oldest state-level organization focused on strengthening relations with China. Under Mr. Coquillard’s leadership, the Council will leverage its extensive network and its legacy of furthering engagement with China to fortify the state’s strategic position in the U.S.-China dialogue.

“The U.S.-China relationship is highly contentious and volatile,” said Mr. Coquillard. “At times of increased tension between our two countries, it is more important than ever that our organization advance a thoughtful, constructive agenda and support our member companies as they look to navigate this complex landscape.”

Washington state is the most trade-driven state in the country, with more than $16 billion in goods exported to China by Washington state companies in 2018 alone. As the Trump administration pursues a trade policy focused on tariffs and confrontational rhetoric, the Council will continue to curate a fact-based, constructive dialogue that supports Washington businesses and advocates for policies that benefit the state.

“The Council is stepping up our programming and expanding our reach to provide our members and the community forums and resources to advance a constructive relationship,” Mr. Coquillard continued. “At this critical juncture, balanced leadership and strategic advocacy is critical.”

Mr. Coquillard located to the Seattle area in late 2016 after more than three decades living in Asia. Prior to his move, Mr. Coquillard served as the Chairman and President of Enactus China, the China operations of the U.S.-based non-profit. From 2011 to 2017, he also served as the of Chairman of IMA China, an organization that hosts forums for the China-based CEOs of multinational corporations.

Before that, Mr. Coquillard was the chairman and president of Cargill Investment (China) Limited, the China operating company for Cargill, the largest privately held company in the U.S. During his tenure, the company’s operations in China expanded rapidly, from 300 employees to over 5,000. Prior to arriving in China 1998, Mr. Coquillard served as the country manager for Cargill’s operations in Japan and Korea from 1984 until 1997. He served as the Chairman of the American Chamber of Commerce in Shanghai in 2008 and 2009, and currently serves as a member of the International Advisory Board of APCO Worldwide, the global communications firm.

The WSCRC also announced that Marc Berger has been named chair of the organization’s board of directors. Mr. Berger is a vice president and partner at Nyhus Communications, a Seattle-based strategic consultancy, where he focuses on crisis management and executive communications. Mr. Berger has served as a board member and member of the WSCRC executive committee since 2014.

During 2019, the Council is hosting a series of programs to celebrate the organization’s 40-year legacy, culminating in the Anniversary Banquet on October 24 in Seattle. These programs included an event honoring the 40th anniversary of the M. V. Liu Lin Hai’s arrival at the Port of Seattle in 1979, the first Chinese ship to port in North America following a thirty-year gap in the bilateral trade relationship. Later that year, the Port of Seattle signed a sister port agreement with the Port of Shanghai, the first such agreement between a Chinese and American port.

###
About the WSCRC
Founded in 1979, the Washington State China Relationship Council is the leading statewide organization dedicated to strengthening commercial, educational and cultural ties with China. With a membership that includes global companies, government agencies and leading experts, the Council facilitates dialogue and organizes delegations with American and Chinese business and government leaders on key policy issus, including investment, trade, environment and diplomacy. The Council has hosted or co-hosted every Chinese leader since Deng Xiaoping, including the visit of President Xi Jinping to Seattle in 2015, as well as the 2014 Bo’ao Forum for Asia, the first time the conference was held in North America.