Recorded on September 16, 2020
About the Event
Some prominent members of the Trump administration seek to decouple the U.S. and Chinese economies with the stated goals of ending U.S. dependence on cheap Chinese manufacturing, bringing factory jobs home, and reducing theft of American IP. Are they closer to their goal after two years of punitive tariffs, successive sanctions targeting senior Chinese officials and Chinese companies, and verbal attacks on China’s Communist Party as a “malign actor” and existential threat to the United States? And what have been the effects of China’s reciprocal tariffs and efforts to end its dependence on imported technology? One of the most authoritative voices in the American business community in China, James McGregor, will talk about how companies continue to do business in China amidst the storm and why decoupling is so hard.
About the Speaker
James McGregor is an American author, journalist, and businessman who has lived in China for three decades. He is currently chairman of APCO Worldwide, Greater China, where he specializes in advising on business, public policy and communications strategies for multinationals. McGregor is the author of the books “No Ancient Wisdom, No Followers: The Challenges of Chinese Authoritarian Capitalism” (2012) and “One Billion Customers: Lessons from the Front Lines of Doing Business in China” (2005). He also wrote the landmark 2010 report “China’s Drive for ‘Indigenous Innovation’ – A Web of Industrial Policies.”
McGregor was a journalist for many years. His postings included police reporter in Los Angeles, political reporter in Washington D.C., bureau chief in Taiwan The Wall Street Journal, followed by bureau chief in mainland China for the Journal. From 1994 to 2000, he was chief executive of Dow Jones & Company in China. He subsequently served as China managing partner for GIV Venture Partners, and founded JL McGregor, a research firm for hedge funds.
McGregor is a former chairman of the American Chamber of Commerce in China, continues to advise AmCham on US-China business and trade politics and policy. He is a member of the Council on Foreign Relations, National Committee on US-China Relations, and the International Council of the Asia Society.