Washington State and China in 2024 and Beyond – the State of Relationship
Join us on Thursday, June 27th, for a discussion on the current trade and economic relationship between Washington State and China. While terms like “decoupling” and “disengagement” are commonly used to describe the national relationship between the U.S. and China, this program will explore what is happening at the local level. We will discuss the latest findings on the current trade relationship between Washington State and China, how recent geopolitical tensions between the U.S. and China have impacted Washington’s economy, and interactions in areas such as technology, education, tourism, and FDI. We’ll also examine the presence and activities of some of the Chinese technology firms in Washington State.
Our panel of experts includes Dr. Spencer Cohen, Principal and Founder of High Peak Strategy; Brent Irvin, General Counsel and Head of Global Corporate Affairs at Tencent and President of Tencent Americas; and Josh Davis, Chief Economic Development Officer and Senior Vice President at Greater Seattle Partners.
The discussion will be off-the-record. Light refreshments and beverages will be served. Registration and confirmation of registration is required.
REGISTER HERE
SPEAKERS
Dr. Spencer Cohen is the Principal and Founder of High Peak Strategy LLC, an economics and research consulting firm based in Seattle, WA. Dr. Cohen consults and writes extensively on international trade, China’s economy, leading industries, and regional economic analysis. He has written opinion pieces in the South China Morning Post, The Daily Guardian (India), Puget Sound Business Journal, and Seattle Business Magazine. He works with ports, international trade associations, corporations, and economic development organizations across the U.S. and abroad.
Spencer was a 2021-2023 Public Intellectuals Program fellow (seventh cohort) with the National Committee on U.S.-China Relations and 2023 American Mandarin Society fellow. He is an affiliate professor in the Department of Geography at the University of Washington and board member (and incoming president) of the Seattle Economics Council. Spencer has a PhD in geography from the University of Washington, an MA in China Studies, also from the University of Washington, and BA in mathematics and history from the University of Connecticut.
Brent Irvin joined Tencent in 2010 and serves in a variety of legal and business roles. At the group level he serves as General Counsel and Head of Global Corporate Affairs, responsible for a wide range of legal, policy and compliance matters. Brent is also President of Tencent Americas and a member of the executive team for Tencent Games. He serves on a variety of boards, including Tongcheng Travel (SEHK: 0780), Tencent Music Entertainment (NYSE: TME), Dream 11 and Grinding Gear Games, and is a member of the board of visitors at Stanford Law School.
Josh Davis has vast global experience as a seasoned economic developer and serves as the Chief Economic Development Officer & SVP for Greater Seattle Partners. Josh is an International Economic Development Council (IEDC)-certified economic developer (CEcD) with an education earned in three continents (Asia, North America, and Europe), including an MBA earned in Seattle’s sister city of Kaohsiung, Taiwan. Josh serves on the U.S. Department of Commerce’s Investment Advisory Council as appointed by the U.S. Secretary of Commerce Gina Raimondo, the International Economic Development Council’s International Advisory Committee, the Washington District Export Council (DEC), as the Private Sector Liaison Officer for the World Bank in the Pacific Northwest, and on the Seattle International Affairs Advisory Board (SIAAB).
Josh has engaged in global trade and FDI conversation on local, regional, national, and international levels. He has led numerous trade missions abroad in collaboration with the public and private sectors. These include outbound missions to India, China, Japan, Norway, Iceland, and Korea, as well as the Paris, Farnborough, and Dubai air shows. Before joining GSP in 2021, Mr. Davis directed aerospace and aviation, international investment and trade, and other economic development activities. Cross-organization collaboration and finding synergies are hallmarks of his leadership style. Josh has created strong relationships with many institutions including World Bank, Export-Import Bank of the United States, consular corps, foreign chambers of commerce, and many public-private partnerships.