Luncheon with DUSTR Bhatia, Commerce’s Padilla
18th October 2007
Deputy USTR Ambassador Karan Bhatia (third right) with AmCham
-China Chairman James Zimmerman (second right) and (from left)
former chairmen John Holden, Chris Murck, Tim Stratford (current
Assistant USTR for China Affairs) and Jim Gradoville.
Over 50 members attended a luncheon with Deputy U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) Ambassador Karan Bhatia and Acting Undersecretary of Commerce for International Trade Chris Padilla on October 10 at the Grand Hyatt.
Ambassador Bhatia and Undersecretary Padilla offered remarks on the state of U.S.-China trade relations in the run-up to December’s Joint Commission on Commerce and Trade (JCCT) and Strategic Economic Dialogue (SED) meetings, while reviewing their opinions and observations of recent negotiations and discussions this week with the PRC government.
The event provided an opportunity for participants to ask the delegates questions regarding bilateral consultations and U.S.-China trade patterns. Topics discussed included food and consumer product safety, emerging industrial policies in China, and increasing protectionist sentiments in both countries. Assistant U.S. Trade Representative for China Affairs and former AmCham Chairman Tim Stratford was also in attendance.
The luncheon was hosted by AmCham-China and the U.S.-China Business Council.