In December, USCIB undertook a mission to China that served as a successful first step in engaging with major Chinese business associations on a number of pressing issues of mutual concern.  The mission also helped acquaint member company representatives based in China, as well as Chinese companies, with the work being done by USCIB's global network (ICC, IOE and BIAC) to help shape the rules of the game in trade and investment.

Led by Clarence Kwan, national managing partner of the U.S. Chinese Services Group at Deloitte & Touche, who chairs USCIB’s China Committee, delegation members traveled to Shanghai and Beijing for a week-long series of meetings.  These included roundtables on intellectual property rights  with ICC’s Chinese national committee, the China Council for the Promotion of International Trade, and on corporate responsibility with the China Enterprise Confederation, IOE’s affiliate.  Some two dozen USCIB members – both U.S.- and China-based – took part in each event.

“This was a terrific example of USCIB members putting the contacts and entrée afforded by our international business network to use in pursuit of regulatory reform,” said USCIB President Peter M. Robinson, who took part in the mission and led discussion at both roundtables.  “We hope it is just the beginning of a more active engagement with our main partners in China.”

Delegation members attended an OECD M&A symposium, which brought together OECD officials, Chinese and U.S. government representatives, and BIAC member companies to discuss investment concerns related to mergers and acquisitions in China.  At the corporate responsibility roundtable, USCIB members were briefed on the OECD’s planned work with China related to investment and corporate social responsibility.

The Chinese government has asked the OECD to undertake a regulatory reform review, providing impartial guidance on necessary policy changes to encourage further growth.  This new project is expected to provide unparalleled access to information about regulatory reform in the country, while placing the OECD in a position to provide guidance and ideas at a critical time in China's development.  As with other OECD country reviews, it would focus primarily on competition policy, regulatory capacity and market openness.  Details have not yet been made public but are expected soon.

USCIB’s China Committee will continue to engage with our Chinese sister organizations and closely follow the OECD China outreach program, notably engaging with the secretariat on OECD work related to China at the next BIAC China Committee Task Force meeting, which is tentatively set for April 11 in Paris.