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© 2010 American Chamber of Commerce in Shanghai Blog
We have concluded our 2010 Doorknock and I believe it is the best one yet in terms of audience, added credibility and forming relationships both within the private sector think tanks and government. This was due to the hard work and diligence of the AmCham Shanghai delegation, led by Robert Roche, chairman of AmCham Shanghai and our AmCham Shanghai staff, led by Brenda Foster, and including David Basmajian and Justin Chan.
I would like to add my personal thanks to everyone who participated and made an effort to help make the American business community stronger. It was a pleasure to work with all of you!
Warm regards,
Phillip E. Branham
Chair, 2010
Washington, D.C. Doorknock
AmCham Shanghai delegates at East West Center event
Speaking to a sold out audience of more than 100 attendees, AmCham Shanghai delegates Robert Roche, Ben Kinnas and Chris Murck spoke on the U.S. – China commercial relationship with a focus on the importance of the China market to achieving the President’s goal of doubling U.S. exports in the next five years. The panel discussion was moderated by Brenda Foster and Satu Limaye, Director of the East West Center in Washington, D.C. and held at the East West Center’s D.C. office.
To listen to an audio recording of the event, please click here.
With a vote expected this week in the House on the Ryan-Murphy bill (Currency Reform for Fair Trade Act) that would allow the U.S. to impose tariffs on countries that undervalue their currency, the AmCham Shanghai-led delegation began its annual Washington, D.C. Doorknock.
While AmCham Shanghai agrees China’s currency is undervalued, it is our position that legislation meant to force RMB revaluation won’t create American jobs and could in fact have the opposite effect.
During the first day of meetings, AmCham Shanghai communicated its message that the key to creating and supporting high-paying jobs in the United States requires increasing U.S. export promotion in China, which is the world’s fastest-growing market, while at the same time, continuing to press China for full market access.
The Doorknock delegation, including AmCham Shanghai President Brenda Foster, Chairman Robert Roche and Doorknock Chair Phillip E. Branham, with Clyde Prestowitz, president of the Economic Strategy Institute
Today’s meetings included a breakfast with Erin Ennis, vice president of the US-China Business Council, where the delegation discussed the political environment in Washington, D.C. as well as ways U.S. exports to China can create and support new jobs at home. Delegation members also met with Clyde Prestowitz, president of the Economic Strategy Institute and Ambassador Carla Hills of Hills & Company to discuss the U.S.-China commercial relationship.
A group of delegates also visited the U.S. Capitol to meet with Senator Dan Inouye (D-HI), president pro tempore of the U.S. Senate who also serves as chairman of the Senate Committee on Appropriations. The delegates engaged Sen. Inouye on the merits of increasing U.S. exports to countries like China and discussed the potential impact of the pending currency legislation.
The Doorknock delegation speaks to Senator Dan Inouye (D-HI)
AmCham Shanghai delegates also engaged two of the premier think tanks in Washington, D.C. to ensure that the on-the-ground experience of American companies in China is clearly communicated in the nation’s capital. Delegates met with Kenneth Lieberthal, director of the John L. Thornton China Center at the Brookings Institution and Nicholas Lardy, senior fellow at the Peterson Institute for International Economics to discuss the future of the U.S.-China commercial relationship and the impact of economic policies in both nations.
