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16th Annual U.S. China Trade Conference

Dealing with China's New Economic, Political, and Social Order

November 5 & 6, 2015

Swissotel Chicago

323 E. Upper Wacker Drive

Chicago, Illinois, 60601

New Speakers and New Sessions added to Program

 

Please see below for updated Conference program.  We have added the following distinguished speakers to our Conference program:

 

  • Ray Young, Executive Vice President and CFO, Archer Daniels Midland Company and a Director of International Paper

  • Craig Heetland, President/Managing Director Asia-Pacific, Marmion Cornelius, a Division of Berkshire Hathaway

  • Eric Lo, Deputy General Manager, Enterprise Business, China Telecom Americas, Inc.

  • Wang Yongzheng, Yongzheng Tailor Shop Group Co Ltd., the largest high-end custom clothier in China

  • William Chen, General Manager of Shanghai MOONS’ Industries U.S., one of the largest integrated manufacturers of motion control products

  • Stone Wang, Managing Director, China Prosperity Real Estate Fund

 

New sessions include:

 

  • Executives of Chinese Companies in the U.S. Forum

  • A U.S. Multinational’s Current Views on the China Opportunity

  • The Roles of eCommerce, Cloud Computing, and Mobile Devices in U.S.-China Business

  • Future Outlook: New Bilateral and Multilateral Agreements and Opportunities in China’s Transition

 

 

A lot has changed since we organized our first Annual Trade Conference 16 years ago.  Since the financial crisis in 2008, the global economy has been dominated by instability, uncertainty, and rapid changes.  After years of tremendous growth, China’s economy is now settling around 6-7% growth.  Even though such a growth rate would be envied by a lot of countries, it sent a shocking wave to global commodity prices and the financial markets.  As China is experiencing a rapid rise in manufacturing cost, it is transitioning itself to a consumer-driven, service, and higher-value-added manufacturing economy.  China is now one of the major sources of capital, and in certain sectors, it outsources its manufacturing.  The transition may be necessary for China to become a more stable, transparent, and open society; however, it poses challenges for both U.S. and Chinese businesses.  Many questions deserve discussion.  What caused the slowdown in China's economy?  Who will be affected in this uncertainty?  Will China continue to be the destination for outsourcing?  How can U.S. companies participate in China’s transition to a consumer-driven economy?  Why are the Chinese investing in the U.S.?  How will Immigration policy impact on human and financial capital?  What are the opportunities for U.S. companies and professionals?

 

The 16th Annual U.S.-China Trade Conference will bring together 20 executives to share their experiences and insights on many of these topics.  They are all practitioners with hands-on experience.  In addition, many of the anticipated 150 participants have been involved in cross-border business for many years.  This event is a unique opportunity to gather up-to-date information and network with a select group of executives and professionals.  The event will be held on Thursday and Friday, November 5 and 6 at the Swissotel in Chicago.  An agenda and registration for the event are available below.

Registration

Registration

Registration for this event is closed.  We thank you for your interest.

 

Program

Program

SIXTEENTH ANNUAL U.S.-CHINA TRADE CONFERENCE
“Dealing with China’s New Economic, Political, and Social Order”

11

5

Registration and Continental Breakfast

8:00 a.m. – 9:00 a.m.

9:00 a.m. – 9:15 a.m.

Welcome Remarks

The Hon. Edward Burke, Dean and Chairman of Finance Committee, Chicago City Council

9:15 a.m. – 9:30 a.m.

9:30 a.m. – 9:45 a.m.

Messages from the Co-Chairs 

Lou Longo, Partner, Global Services, Plante Moran, PLLC; Feng Xue, Partner/Chair, China Practice, Katten Muchin Rosenman LLP

The New China and Its Statistics: What Has Changed?

Siva Yam, CPA, CFA, U.S.-China Chamber of Commerce

9:45 a.m. – 10:15 a.m.

What will the Congress Do in Addressing U.S.-China Trade Issues and   Devaluation of RMB?

Wayne Morrison, Specialist in Asian Trade and Finance, Congressional Research Service

Coffee Break and Networking

10:15 a.m. – 10:30 a.m.

Manufacturing Forum: Is China’s Manufacturing Still Competitive?

Forum Moderator: Howard Dubin, Chairman, Manufacturers News; Mark Jaeger, Sr. VP, Human Resources, General Counsel & Secretary, Jockey International, Inc. ; Bo Yang, General Manager, Global Business – China, Navistar, Inc. (Invited); TBA

10:30 a.m. – 11:30 a.m.

11:30 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.

Immigration and Investment: How U.S. Companies Could Benefit?

Michael F. Turansick, Esq., Partner, Fragomen, Del Rey, Bernsen and Loewy, LLP

12:00 p.m. – 1:30 p.m.

Executive Lunch and Speech

Special Remarks: Ambassador Zhao Weiping, Consul General of PRC in Chicago (Invited); TBA

1:30 p.m. – 2:30 p.m.

Chinese Companies in the U.S. CEO Forum

Forum Moderator: Feng Xue, Partner/Chair, China Practice, Katten Muchin Rosenman LLP; Wang Yongzheng, Yongzheng Tailor Shop Group Co Ltd.; William Chen, General Manager, U.S., Shanghai Moons' Industries; Stone Wang, Managing Director, China Prosperity Real Estate Fund

2:30 p.m. – 3:00 p.m.

New Accounting and Tax Law that Impacts Cross Border Investments

Lou Longo, Partner; Stella Su, Prinicpal, Global Services, Plante Moran, PLLC

3:00 p.m. – 3:15 p.m.

Coffee Break and Networking Session

3:15 p.m. – 3:45 p.m.

Health and Safety Compliance: Meeting International Standards

Weifang Zhou, President, UL Ventures

3:45 p.m. – 4:15 p.m.

Protecting Trademarks and Patents in China: What You Need to Know

Bryan Wahl, Partner; Thomas Yee, Partner; Knobbe Martens Olson & Bear, LLP

4:15 p.m. – 4:45 p.m.

What are the Roles of eCommerce, Cloud Computing and Mobile Devices in U.S.-China Business

Eric Lo, Deputy General Manager, Enterprise Business, China Telecoms Americas, Inc.

Cocktail Reception / Networking

5:00 p.m. – 6:00 p.m.

6:15 p.m.

Networking Dinner

8:00 a.m. – 9:00 a.m.

11

6

Registration and Continental Breakfast

9:00 a.m. – 9:45 a.m.

Morning Keynote: A U.S. Multinational's Current Views on the China Opportunity

Ray Young, Executive Vice President and CFO, Archer Daniels Midland Company

9:45 a.m. – 10:45 a.m.

Marketing Professional Forum: Selling to Chinese Consumer – Pricing, Branding, and Distribution

Craig Heetland, President/Managing Director Asia-Pacific, Marmon-Cornelius – a division of Berkshire Hathaway; Leon Bian, V.P. Business Development, Graphite Software; Ross Anderson, Director of Global Operations, Midwest Rubber Service & Supply Company; TBA

10:45 a.m. – 11:00 a.m.

Coffee Break and Networking Session

11:00 a.m. – 11:30 a.m.

Sourcing Manager Forum: Nuts and Bolts in Dealing with Rising Manufacturing Cost in China

Thomas Fu, Vice President, Global Innovation, LBP Manufacturing, LLC.; Richard Chen, Executive Vice President of Sales, Vaxcel International Co., Ltd.; TBA

11:30 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.

Future Outlook: Opportunities in China’s Transition

Panel Discussion: Siva Yam, President, U.S.-China Chamber of Commerce; Jonathan Garrison, Managing Director-China, FDI Strategies, LLC

12:00 p.m.

Closing Remarks and Adjournment

Speakers

Speakers

The Honorable Edward M. Burke

Dean and Chairman of Finance Committee

City Council of Chicago

Alderman Edward M. Burke, the Dean of the Chicago City Council, has served as Alderman of Chicago's 14th Ward for more than three-and-a-half decades. A recognized expert on city budget matters, Alderman Burke is the Chairman of the City Council Committee on Finance.

 

A master parliamentarian, Alderman Burke entered politics by following in the footsteps of his father, Joseph P., and became Democratic Committeeman of the 14th Ward in 1968 and Alderman in 1969. Alderman Burke was a Chicago Police Officer, serving from 1965 to 1968.

 

As Chairman of the City Council's powerful Committee on Finance, Alderman Burke holds the city's purse strings and is responsible for all legislative matters pertaining to the city's finances, including municipal bonds, taxes and revenue matters. Alderman Burke became Chairman for the second time in 1989. He previously served from 1983 to1987. He also serves as a member of the Chicago Plan Commission.

 

Throughout his career in public life, Alderman Burke has been an avid student of Chicago history and is the coauthor of two books, Inside the Wigwam: Chicago Presidential Conventions, 1860-1996; and End of Watch.  Alderman Burke is a partner in the law firm of Klafter & Burke and is involved in many civic and charitable organizations, including the One Hundred Club of Cook County, the Knights of Columbus and the Irish Fellowship Club of Chicago.

 

A lifelong resident of the Southwest Side, Alderman Burke graduated from Quigley Preparatory Seminary in 1961 and earned his Bachelor's Degree from DePaul University in 1965. He received his Juris Doctor Degree from DePaul University College of Law in 1968 and was admitted to the Illinois Bar that same year.

 

Alderman Burke and his wife, Anne, a Justice of the Illinois Supreme Court, are the parents of four children: Jennifer, Edward, Sarah and the late Emmett. The Burkes are also the permanent guardians of Travis.

 

The Honorable Zhao Weiping

Consul General

Consulate General of the People's Republic of China in Chicago

 

Consul General Zhao Weiping was born in Zhejiang Province, China in July 1967 and graduated from China Foreign Affairs University. He has extensive experience in diplomacy and foreign affairs. Prior to his current appointment as Consul General of the Chinese Consulate in Chicago in 2013, he has hosted the following positions:

 

1991-1994     Attache, Department of North American and Oceanian Affairs, Ministry of Foreign                             Affairs of the People's Republic of China

 

1994-1997     Attache, Third Secretary, Chinese Embassy in Australia

 

1997-2002     Third Secretary, Deputy Director, then Director, Department of North American                                 and Oceanian Affairs, Ministry of Foreign Affairs

 

2002-2003     Counsellor, Head of Political office, Chinese Embassy in Canada

 

2003-2006     Counsellor, Head of Congressional Affairs, Chinese Embassy in the United States of                       America

 

2006-2010     Counsellor, then Deputy Director-General, Department of North American and                                 Oceanian Affairs, Ministry of Foreign Affairs

 

2010-2012     Chinese Ambassador to the Independent State of Samoa

 

2013-             Chinese Consul General to Chicago

 

The Consul General is married.

Siva Yam, CPA, CFA