WASHINGTON - U.S. Chamber of Commerce President and CEO Suzanne P. Clark this week led a delegation to Beijing to have candid conversations with senior Chinese government and business leaders, including Premier Li Qiang, regarding the commercial opportunities and challenges between the United States and China.
The Chamber delegation also met with top executives from the American business community, U.S. Ambassador to China Nicholas Burns, and representatives of the foreign diplomatic corps and business community to hear their perspectives on the Chinese economy, the business climate, and geopolitics. The Chamber delegation heard from American business leaders on the increasing challenges in the China market.
In meetings with Chinese leaders, the Chamber emphasized its longstanding support of mutually beneficial U.S.-China commercial ties that do not compromise U.S. national security interests. The Chamber underscored that decoupling is not an option, while urging China to take concrete steps to further open the PRC economy, make business approvals more predictable and transparent, and reduce broad and opaque national security standards and data controls that have chilled foreign investment into the PRC economy. Furthermore, the Chamber stressed the need to clarify opaque and inconsistently applied policies.
The Chamber also voiced deep concerns about looming overcapacity from China in a variety of industries linked to Made in China 2025. The Chamber delegation urged China’s leaders to address the harmful effects of its non-market economic policies that are threatening to increase protectionism around the world. In their meetings, the Chamber also conveyed business concerns regarding China’s use of heavy-handed commercial pressure tactics, digital protectionism, and intellectual property theft.
While affirming the importance of U.S. government efforts to safeguard national security, the Chamber emphasized its staunch support for job-supporting commerce with China for the majority of the commercial relationship where national security concerns are absent.
The Chamber’s visit to China is part of its important work representing and advocating for U.S. business interests worldwide. Last year, the U.S. Chamber of Commerce led business delegations to 37 foreign capitals across every continent except Antarctica, providing access and insights for businesses expanding into new markets. Additionally, the Chamber hosts dozens of heads of state and over 500 other senior officials from around the world annually at its headquarters in Washington, D.C. The Chamber represents the American business community at multilateral gatherings, including the Munich Security Conference, the UN General Assembly, APEC, and COP28.
